Robert Welch

Ring the bell…the Man has died!

 8-14-1933 Robert Clay Welch 8-28-2024

He was Born, Raised, Lived and Died in Sugar Creek, Missouri…a true CREEKER!

He attended Fairmount elementary and graduated from Northeast HS in 1951.

After graduation he planned to “Walk On” with the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team…but 7 days before his 18th birthday LIFE threw him a curve ball that literally knocked him off his feet. POLIO stopped him in his tracks. He credits his brother Art for the ability to walk again by giving him daily Physical Therapy.

His determination, drive and strong work ethic guided him to follow a path of Education.

The 1st in his family to go to college…he went to KC Junior college and then earned his Business degree from UMKC.

He worked various jobs from cleaning cars, modeling shirts, salesman for Foremost Dairy & Robin Hood Flour to selling Real Estate with Judge Jeff Keal’s father.

It was during this time that he wanted to learn to play Tennis. A childhood friend introduced him to Jake. From day one they clashed, argued and seemed incompatible …but he learned to play Tennis anyway.

They married 9-2-1955…and fought their way through the next 69 years.

June of 1956 Deni was born. (pre-law school)

Bob continued to work, and Jake finished her PE degree from KU. Bob entered UMKC School of Law. They both worked days, and he attended night school…he got little sleep but graduated with his Juris Doctorate in 1965. While in college he did have some fun …he and JD Williamson hustled pool to make ends meet. (Maybe that is when his love of gambling began…he bet on anything & everything!)

The law firm of Graham, Paden & Welch was established that same year.

He became the Prosecuting Attorney for the City of Sugar Creek in 1967 for 53 Years (Judges: Virgil Lynch, Fred Burns & Gary Helm).

He was also the The City Attorney in SC from 1981-2000.

May 1968 Andi was born (post law school)

Bobs law career took off. He became active in many professional and civic organizations to give back to his profession & his community. His leadership and numerous accomplishments were followed by many Awards.

In 1984 he was President of the KCMBA, President & Founding member of Eastern JCBA, 1989 Lifetime Achievement award from UMKC Law Foundation, 2000 MO Bar Foundation Spurgeon Smithson award, and Truman Heartland Award and many more…too numerous to list!

He became the City of Blue Springs Prosecutor in 1973 until 2015 (42 Years). (Good friend Judge John Jack & Judge Don LaGrasso)

Then at 81 years old he got a new job…he became an assistant Prosecutor for the Municipal Division of Jackson County. (Judge Gary Helm)

He developed a subdivision in Sugar Creek and built Jake her dream house.

When they were not traveling, he learned to fly a plane & play golf.

He spent many weekends fishing with friends, golfing with coworkers, & hunting with his brothers and friends Bob Oliphant & Jim Pollard. (His daughters learned to clean quail before they were 5 yrs old… they earned Christmas money cleaning quail for many years)

His philosophy…Keep your word. Pay your bills. Stand by your family.

He is preceded in death by parents Arthur Uriah Welch & Ova Trimble Welch

Brothers: James Carl Welch & Arthur Lee Welch

Sister: Laura Elizabeth “Betty” Tindall

He is survived by wife Jake (Ellen R. Duncan) Welch

Daughter: Denise Macey (husband Bryan Macey)

Daughter: Andrea Welch (husband John Jarvis)

Granddaughter: Danielle Masters

Grandsons: Dustin Masters (Hayley Christensen), Jacob Jarvis & Brett Macey

Great grandsons: Bodhi Micheal & Nico Clay Masters)

People will forget what you said,

People will forget what you did,

But people will never forget …how you made them feel! 

He was a SPECIAL man…and he made everyone feel SPECIAL!