Foley, Jay Robert 'Bob'

3/1/1937 - 4/13/2013

Jay Robert “Bob” Foley, 76, of Willmar, Minn., died Saturday, April 13, 2013, at Willmar Care Center. His memorial service will be 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 17, at the Willmar United Methodist Church. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Harvey Anderson Funeral Home, 1000 19th Ave. SW, Willmar, MN 56201 (320) 235-0545, and continue one hour before the service at the church.

Bob was born March 1, 1937, in Rolla, N.D., the son of Robert and Marguerite (Murry) Foley. He grew up in Rolla and graduated from Rolla High School. On March 9, 1955, he was united in marriage to Judith Bailey at the Methodist Church in Rolla. They had two sons, Michael and Steven.

Although Bob earned his degree in Mortuary Science from the University of Minnesota, his academic degrees in science and education from the University of North Dakota, and a degree in library and information science from the University of Denver brought him to the field of education. He was employed as senior high librarian in International Falls, Minn.; director of School Libraries and executive director of Staff and Curriculum Development in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and adjunct professor of Information Science at the University of Iowa. During his tenure in Cedar Rapids, the Cedar Rapids school library program won Program of the Year in the National School Library Media Awards.

Later, Bob and Judy moved to Willmar, where he was director of Planning and Education Services at the Educational Cooperative Services Unit in southwest Minnesota. He has been an active member of the United Methodist Church, an avid golfer and lover of historical literature.

Bob earned his private pilot's license at the age of 16. This started a lifelong interest in aviation, especially World War II and civil aviation. He also developed an early interest in operatic music, which he promoted by mentoring senior high students in International Falls, fostering their interest in regional and national opera through school-sponsored trips to the Metropolitan Opera and Minnesota Opera performances in Minneapolis.

Bob is survived by his wife, Judy of Willmar; sons, Mike (and Linda) Foley of Tujunga, Calif., and Steve (and Michelle) Foley of Urbana; grandchildren, Michael Foley of Polk City, Iowa, Ashley Foley of Waterloo, Jennica Foley of North Liberty, Melissa (and Jacy) Watts of Hiawatha, Melanie Manley of Valdosta, Ga., and Brooke Davis of Chicago; and brothers, Douglas (and Patty) Foley of Eloy, Ariz., and Donald Foley of Atlanta, Ga.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Marguerite Foley; and his grandparents, Addison and Jessie Foley and Raymond and Estelle Murry.

Memorials preferred to the Willmar United Methodist Church or Rice Hospice.

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Published April 16, 2013 in The Gazette