OBITUARY:
Robert Coleman DeWitt, 75, son of Chloe and Nellie Cole DeWitt, was born Nov. 17, 1929, at Hartshorn. He died March 29, 2005, at his home at Raymondville.
He married Olivia "Marie" Wilson March 22, 1960.
Mr. DeWitt worked for more than 50 years in the sawmill and wood crafting industry. He was an accomplished bluegrass musician and songwriter. He played guitar and sang lead with the New River Grass for 25 years. He was a founder and member of the Heart of the Ozarks Bluegrass Association in West Plains.
He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1947 to '50. He was a long-time member of the American Legion and the Forty and Eight.
He enjoyed the outdoors and spending time with family and friends. He worked in the community organizing benefits and other fund-raisers.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Billy Eugene DeWitt and Wilbur Dale DeWitt; two sons, Joseph Mark DeWitt and Roy Edward Eugene DeWitt.
Surviving are his wife of 45 years; son, Robert D. DeWitt of St. James; three daughters, Deborah A. DeWitt of Rolla, Patricia M. DeWitt of Springfield and Barbara S. French of Raymondville; his brother, Chloe Dean DeWitt of Hartshorn; and 12 grandchildren.
Services are 10 o'clock Friday at the Evans Funeral Home Chapel with burial in the Antioch Cemetery at Hartshorn.
Visitation is 4 to 6 o'clock tonight (Thursday) at the Evans chapel.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
THANK YOU - Special thank you to Dennis Deel for sponsoring my dad's memorial. Please visit Dennis Deel's beautiful mother and father's memorials, Helen & Ollie Deel. Click on Dennis' link at the bottom of the page.
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LEADER OF THE BAND -
By Dan Fogelberg
An only child
Alone and wild
A cabinet makers son
His hands were meant
For different work
And his heart was known
To none --
He left his home
And went his lone
And solitary way
And he gave to me
A gift I know I never
Can repay
A quiet man of music
Denied a simpler fate
He tried to be a soldier once
But his music wouldnt wait
He earned his love
Through discipline
A thundering, velvet hand
His gentle means of sculpting souls
Took me years to understand.
I thank you for the music
And your stories of the road
I thank you for the freedom
When it came my time to go --
I thank you for the kindness
And the times when you got tough
And, pap, I dont think i
Said i love you near enough --
The leader of the band is tired
And his eyes are growing old
But his blood runs through
My instrument
And his song is in my soul --
My life has been a poor attempt
To imitate the man
Im just a living legacy
To the leader of the band
I am the living legacy
To the leader of the band.
++++Thanks Dan, I couldn't have said it better myself about my dad too.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Robert Coleman DeWitt, 75, son of Chloe and Nellie Cole DeWitt, was born Nov. 17, 1929, at Hartshorn. He died March 29, 2005, at his home at Raymondville.
He married Olivia "Marie" Wilson March 22, 1960.
Mr. DeWitt worked for more than 50 years in the sawmill and wood crafting industry. He was an accomplished bluegrass musician and songwriter. He played guitar and sang lead with the New River Grass for 25 years. He was a founder and member of the Heart of the Ozarks Bluegrass Association in West Plains.
He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1947 to '50. He was a long-time member of the American Legion and the Forty and Eight.
He enjoyed the outdoors and spending time with family and friends. He worked in the community organizing benefits and other fund-raisers.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Billy Eugene DeWitt and Wilbur Dale DeWitt; two sons, Joseph Mark DeWitt and Roy Edward Eugene DeWitt.
Surviving are his wife of 45 years; son, Robert D. DeWitt of St. James; three daughters, Deborah A. DeWitt of Rolla, Patricia M. DeWitt of Springfield and Barbara S. French of Raymondville; his brother, Chloe Dean DeWitt of Hartshorn; and 12 grandchildren.
Services are 10 o'clock Friday at the Evans Funeral Home Chapel with burial in the Antioch Cemetery at Hartshorn.
Visitation is 4 to 6 o'clock tonight (Thursday) at the Evans chapel.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
THANK YOU - Special thank you to Dennis Deel for sponsoring my dad's memorial. Please visit Dennis Deel's beautiful mother and father's memorials, Helen & Ollie Deel. Click on Dennis' link at the bottom of the page.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
LEADER OF THE BAND -
By Dan Fogelberg
An only child
Alone and wild
A cabinet makers son
His hands were meant
For different work
And his heart was known
To none --
He left his home
And went his lone
And solitary way
And he gave to me
A gift I know I never
Can repay
A quiet man of music
Denied a simpler fate
He tried to be a soldier once
But his music wouldnt wait
He earned his love
Through discipline
A thundering, velvet hand
His gentle means of sculpting souls
Took me years to understand.
I thank you for the music
And your stories of the road
I thank you for the freedom
When it came my time to go --
I thank you for the kindness
And the times when you got tough
And, pap, I dont think i
Said i love you near enough --
The leader of the band is tired
And his eyes are growing old
But his blood runs through
My instrument
And his song is in my soul --
My life has been a poor attempt
To imitate the man
Im just a living legacy
To the leader of the band
I am the living legacy
To the leader of the band.
++++Thanks Dan, I couldn't have said it better myself about my dad too.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
OBITUARY:
Robert Coleman DeWitt, 75, son of Chloe and Nellie Cole DeWitt, was born Nov. 17, 1929, at Hartshorn. He died March 29, 2005, at his home at Raymondville.
He married Olivia "Marie" Wilson March 22, 1960.
Mr. DeWitt worked for more than 50 years in the sawmill and wood crafting industry. He was an accomplished bluegrass musician and songwriter. He played guitar and sang lead with the New River Grass for 25 years. He was a founder and member of the Heart of the Ozarks Bluegrass Association in West Plains.
He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1947 to '50. He was a long-time member of the American Legion and the Forty and Eight.
He enjoyed the outdoors and spending time with family and friends. He worked in the community organizing benefits and other fund-raisers.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Billy Eugene DeWitt and Wilbur Dale DeWitt; two sons, Joseph Mark DeWitt and Roy Edward Eugene DeWitt.
Surviving are his wife of 45 years; son, Robert D. DeWitt of St. James; three daughters, Deborah A. DeWitt of Rolla, Patricia M. DeWitt of Springfield and Barbara S. French of Raymondville; his brother, Chloe Dean DeWitt of Hartshorn; and 12 grandchildren.
Services are 10 o'clock Friday at the Evans Funeral Home Chapel with burial in the Antioch Cemetery at Hartshorn.
Visitation is 4 to 6 o'clock tonight (Thursday) at the Evans chapel.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
THANK YOU - Special thank you to Dennis Deel for sponsoring my dad's memorial. Please visit Dennis Deel's beautiful mother and father's memorials, Helen & Ollie Deel. Click on Dennis' link at the bottom of the page.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
LEADER OF THE BAND -
By Dan Fogelberg
An only child
Alone and wild
A cabinet makers son
His hands were meant
For different work
And his heart was known
To none --
He left his home
And went his lone
And solitary way
And he gave to me
A gift I know I never
Can repay
A quiet man of music
Denied a simpler fate
He tried to be a soldier once
But his music wouldnt wait
He earned his love
Through discipline
A thundering, velvet hand
His gentle means of sculpting souls
Took me years to understand.
I thank you for the music
And your stories of the road
I thank you for the freedom
When it came my time to go --
I thank you for the kindness
And the times when you got tough
And, pap, I dont think i
Said i love you near enough --
The leader of the band is tired
And his eyes are growing old
But his blood runs through
My instrument
And his song is in my soul --
My life has been a poor attempt
To imitate the man
Im just a living legacy
To the leader of the band
I am the living legacy
To the leader of the band.
++++Thanks Dan, I couldn't have said it better myself about my dad too.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Robert Coleman DeWitt, 75, son of Chloe and Nellie Cole DeWitt, was born Nov. 17, 1929, at Hartshorn. He died March 29, 2005, at his home at Raymondville.
He married Olivia "Marie" Wilson March 22, 1960.
Mr. DeWitt worked for more than 50 years in the sawmill and wood crafting industry. He was an accomplished bluegrass musician and songwriter. He played guitar and sang lead with the New River Grass for 25 years. He was a founder and member of the Heart of the Ozarks Bluegrass Association in West Plains.
He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1947 to '50. He was a long-time member of the American Legion and the Forty and Eight.
He enjoyed the outdoors and spending time with family and friends. He worked in the community organizing benefits and other fund-raisers.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Billy Eugene DeWitt and Wilbur Dale DeWitt; two sons, Joseph Mark DeWitt and Roy Edward Eugene DeWitt.
Surviving are his wife of 45 years; son, Robert D. DeWitt of St. James; three daughters, Deborah A. DeWitt of Rolla, Patricia M. DeWitt of Springfield and Barbara S. French of Raymondville; his brother, Chloe Dean DeWitt of Hartshorn; and 12 grandchildren.
Services are 10 o'clock Friday at the Evans Funeral Home Chapel with burial in the Antioch Cemetery at Hartshorn.
Visitation is 4 to 6 o'clock tonight (Thursday) at the Evans chapel.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
THANK YOU - Special thank you to Dennis Deel for sponsoring my dad's memorial. Please visit Dennis Deel's beautiful mother and father's memorials, Helen & Ollie Deel. Click on Dennis' link at the bottom of the page.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
LEADER OF THE BAND -
By Dan Fogelberg
An only child
Alone and wild
A cabinet makers son
His hands were meant
For different work
And his heart was known
To none --
He left his home
And went his lone
And solitary way
And he gave to me
A gift I know I never
Can repay
A quiet man of music
Denied a simpler fate
He tried to be a soldier once
But his music wouldnt wait
He earned his love
Through discipline
A thundering, velvet hand
His gentle means of sculpting souls
Took me years to understand.
I thank you for the music
And your stories of the road
I thank you for the freedom
When it came my time to go --
I thank you for the kindness
And the times when you got tough
And, pap, I dont think i
Said i love you near enough --
The leader of the band is tired
And his eyes are growing old
But his blood runs through
My instrument
And his song is in my soul --
My life has been a poor attempt
To imitate the man
Im just a living legacy
To the leader of the band
I am the living legacy
To the leader of the band.
++++Thanks Dan, I couldn't have said it better myself about my dad too.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
