Robert Ray Pitman, 54

Robert Ray 'Bob' Pitman, 54, died at his home of pancreatic cancer on Friday, Oct. 20, 2006.

Bob was born on May 14, 1952 in Bozeman to Richmond and Mary Frances Pitman. He was the oldest of four sons. He grew up in Deer Lodge, attending Powell County High School where he was very active in sports, playing football, basketball and golf. Bob graduated in 1970 and began work for the Milwaukee Railroad, spending the summer in Avery, Idaho, to earn money for college. After a year at Montana Tech, he returned to the Milwaukee Railroad in what would be the beginning of a long and diverse career in the railroad industry.

It was Bob's desire to live his life in Montana that guided many decisions throughout his life. Except for two short exceptions, this fourth generation native Montanan lived and died in the state he loved.

Bob married Penny Dues, and together they suffered the loss of their premature son, Jonathan Kern Pitman. They later divorced.

Bob continued his career with the railroad, enjoying the opportunities on days off to spend time in the mountains fishing, hunting and camping. Stories keep surfacing of Bob's skills with his rifle and fishing rod and his knowledge of the outdoors.

On June 30, 1979, Bob married Maryanne Day, a transplant from Michigan. He shared a lifetime of adventures and love of the outdoors with her; he gave her his Montana.

After the Milwaukee Railroad pulled out of Montana, Bob enjoyed a summer working as a white-water river guide for Western Waters, floating the Alberton Gorge, loving the high water and the crab leg feasts at Forest Grove. With severance pay, he bought his own white-water raft, adding another dimension of joy to his life.

With a surplus of unemployed railroad workers, Bob and Maryanne had to leave Montana. In October, 1980, after a series of short-term moves, they moved to Klamath Falls, Ore., where Bob was able to obtain a yardmaster's job with the Burlington Northern Railroad, with a seniority date which would eventually allow him to transfer back to Montana.

A son, Braden Rogue, was born on Feb. 3, 1981, in Klamath Falls. Later that year the family moved back to Montana. In the summer of 1983, Bob worked on the Alaska Railroad out of Anchorage, while his family went to Michigan where a son, Raymond Richmond, was born on June 27, 1983. After a winter in Seeley Lake, they moved to Whitefish, where Bob worked as a yardmaster/trainman.

On Nov. 12, 1984, a son, Geoffrey Logan, was born. In 1985, they moved to Livingston, where Bob worked as a brakeman, and fished and hunted and floated. Yellowstone Park was a favorite day trip with the family. In 1988, they moved to Columbia Falls and Bob worked as a yardmaster in Whitefish. After several heart attacks and heart surgery, Bob left the railroad on disability.

Bob's talent with computers was stunning. Beginning with an IBM-PC in Livingston, Bob devoured the most technical manuals, and enjoyed developing special projects for the railroad. This same mental intensity was evident in his chess game and his golf game. He grew up working and playing on a golf course, as his father maintained the course at Deer Lodge.

Bob shared his passions and knowledge with his sons, teaching them to fish, hunt, run a river, camp, golf, play chess and use the computer. These skills will be with them forever.

Bob was preceded in death by his son, Jonathan Kern Pitman, and his father, Richmond Kern Pitman.

Bob is survived by his wife, Maryanne; his sons, Braden of Missoula, and Raymond and Geoffrey, of Columbia Falls; his mother, Mary Frances Pitman, of Deer Lodge; his brother, Mike and his son Reed, of Deer Lodge; his brother Dan, of Boise, Idaho; his brother, Ken and his wife Pam, and their sons, David, Steven, and Mathew, of Seeley Lake; and many well-loved aunts, uncles and cousins. He is survived by many friends from his railroad career. Bob is also survived by an amazing group of classmates, who, through the Internet, have been able to remain close, sharing memories and love.

Cremation has taken place. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 28, at the United Methodist Church in Columbia Falls. The family would be blessed to share time and memories with Bob's friends at a reception following the service.