Robert Ray Florence

January 27, 1947 - December 26, 2016

Robert Ray Florence, age 69, of Bowling Green passed away December 26, 2016 at the Willow Care Center in Hannibal. Funeral services will be held 12:00 p.m., Tuesday, January 3, 2017 at the Bibb-Veach Funeral Home in Bowling Green with Rev. Charlie Wright officiating. Military rites will be performed by the VFW Post #5553 and the Missouri Military Honors. Burial will be in the Curryville Cemetery. Visitation will be held 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Robert was born January 27, 1947 the son of Raymond and Hazel B. Shepherd Florence in Louisiana. Survivors include his father of Galesburg, IL; girlfriend Beverly Thomas; son Robert Coleman of Galesburg, IL; three daughters Latoya Florence of Bowling Green, Anja Jones of Davenport, IA, and Rae McCane of Hannibal; eight grandchildren; nine great grandchildren; sister Bonnie Dickerson of Galesburg; and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his mother Hazel and two grandchildren. Robert grew up in Bowling Green and lived in Bowling Green most of his life, living a short time in Canton and Iowa. Robert served in the United States Marine Corp. during the Vietnam War, receiving a purple heart. He was a member of the Arthur Florence Masonic Lodge #184 in Bowling Green, worked at Hercules as a filter plant operator, was a corrections officer in the food service area at N.E.C.C. and enjoyed fishing, playing cards, motorcycle riding and pitching horseshoes. Serving as pallbearers will be Donnie Hendricks, Harold Hendricks, Thamous Dickerson, Aaron Mayfield, Larry Madison and Roy McQuay. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Gary Bell, Leonard Bragg, Matthew Hunter Jr., Clarence Frasier and Lewis Grimmet Jr. Memorials may be made to the Donor’s Choice.