IN LOVING MEMORY OF

Robert

Parlee

June 6, 1931 – November 14, 2025

Obituary

Robert Allen Parlee, beloved son, husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather passed away peacefully at Maine General Medical Center in Augusta, Maine on November 15, 2025. Bob was born on June 6, 1931, to parents Helen and Harry Parlee. Younger sister Joanie arrived a few years later completing the family unit. Robert, known to everyone as Bob, grew up in Saugus Massachusetts graduating from Saugus High School in 1949. Bob was involved in band, boys club, and was an exceptional athlete competing in baseball, football, and his favorite, basketball. Bob once scored 50 points in a high school basketball game! Bob loved and closely followed the Red Sox, Patriots, and Celtics for his entire life and was quite knowledgeable on all teams. He claimed to have shared stats and jokes over beer on more than one occasion with infamous announcer, Johnny Most. Bob also became a follower of Maine Women's Basketball after watching Cindy Blodgett play. Bob entered the US Army after high school and became a code breaker stationed in Austria during the Korean Conflict. After the Army, Bob entered the business world and worked in Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and eventually Boston, where he settled into a career in shoe sales specializing in orthopedic and prosthetic footwear for children. Bob married Gloria LeBlanc in May of 1962 and began a family that included children Karen, Greg, Christine, and Gayle. Once the children had moved out on their own, Bob and Gloria moved to central Maine and "loved it here". Bob returned to the workforce in his 70s and joined another great family at McDonald's in Augusta, where he continued his love of hard work and met many cherished friends and respected coworkers. Bob was known to be extremely prompt. He was never late for anything in his life, especially if it was to give someone a ride– you could count on him to get you there on time with some to spare. He was an amazing observer and compliment giver, outgoing with those close to him, unceasingly funny, loyal, kind, and an absolutely brilliant man. He loved going to the Lithgow Library, visiting Run for Your Life gym, and appreciated a hot cup of coffee, fresh bagels, all soup varieties, and loved his cheesecakes, especially from the kitchen of daughter Christine. Bob was an easy to please and avid reader, a risk-taking card and Monopoly player, a keen Scrabble expert and he would spend hours on end delighting his grandchildren and wife Gloria with reading stories, watching movies and playing games of their choice. Bob loved crossword puzzles and conversing in any subject, especially sports, religion, politics, and philosophy. Bob was open-minded and supportive of everyone, especially women. He would faithfully attend a sports-sponsored spaghetti supper and volunteer as a coach for his granddaughter's grade school softball and basketball teams. Bob is predeceased by his beloved wife of 64 years Gloria, his parents Helen and Harry, sister Joanie, son Gregory M. Smith, former son-in law Richard Roy and beloved cousins Red and Ada Richard and their son Paul along with countless friends and family members with whom he is now reunited. Bob is survived by daughters Karen Manning and spouse Ted, Christine Currie and spouse Steve, Gayle McGuire and spouse Walter and their daughter Kayla McGuire; Karen's son Matthew Roy and wife Colleen, along with their children Nathan and Charlotte; Chris' children Gloria Peterson and spouse Keir along with their son Jack; Conrad Woodman and wife Erika along with children Carmella, Conrad Jr, and Cosmo; Justine Woodman and her partner Morgan Keith; step-grandchildren Jared, Mackenzie, and Megan Currie along with their children; Todd and Troy Manning along with their children. Bob spent the final chapter of his life at Assisted Living Gray Birch in Augusta and ultimately the Alzheimer's Care Center in Gardiner where he received excellent care while unexpectedly making a few friends along the way. A private ceremony will be held at the Veterans Cemetery in Augusta in the Spring. Arrangements and guidance are in the care of Roberts Funeral Home, 62 Bowdoin Street, Winthrop, Maine. Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared with the family on the obituary page of the Roberts Funeral Home website, www.khrfuneralhomes.com
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