Robert M. "Bob" Saunier, 89, of McAlester, passed away Saturday, May 21, at his home, with his family at his side.  The family will host a celebration of life service and visitation at Brumley-Mills Funeral Home on Friday, May 27, at 5:00 p.m.  The family requests that memorial donations be made to his life-long passion to establish and maintain McAlester parks, at McAlester Rotary Club, Bob Saunier Memorial Fund at P.O. Box 85, McAlester, Ok. 74502.

A fourth generation Oklahoman, Bob was born on November 19, 1932 in Enid, the son of Walter James and Mary Lorene (George) Saunier.  He was born and raised in Enid, where he met and married his wife, Drue, in 1951.  He was inducted into the U.S. Army in 1952.  He worked his way through the ranks from Private to Colonel.  His military career included numerous command and staff assignments, culminating with an extended period of service as a mobilization officer on the Army General Staff in the Army Operation Center in the Pentagon.  He held special Army designation as Dual Rated Army Aviator and Nuclear Weapons Employment Officer.

After graduation from Oklahoma State University, he and his wife, Drue, elected to move their family to McAlester in 1959, establishing their own Real Estate and Insurance businesses.  He was also active in cattle ranching in the Indianola area for 25 years.  The real estate business grew into southeastern Oklahoma's oldest and largest real estate building and development company, which is today headed by Randy Saunier as President and CEO.  Over the years, their company has been responsible for the building of hundreds of homes, apartments, motels and numerous commercial buildings.  For many years, they have been McAlester's largest apartment owners.  Redbud Acres and Green Meadow are among their McAlester developments.

Bob was appointed, by four successive Governors, to the Oklahoma Real Estate Commission and in 1998 was elected as International President of the Association of Real Estate License Law Officials, the organization that regulates the real estate activities of over 3 million real estate licensees.  He served on numerous city boards and committees for the community, including over 26 years as Chairman of the McAlester Parks Board.  He was the driving force that helped create Rotary Park and Rotary House, together with numerous improvements to the entire city park system.  The parks were his endless labor of love which he hoped would someday develop into a truly outstanding park system for the city.  He and his wife built the water feature in Rotary Park, in memory of their daughter, naming it the Debra Saunier Pond.

Bob was a long-time member of the McAlester Rotary Club; a life member of the Masonic Lodge, Han Yang 1048 in Seoul, Korea; a member of the Scottish Rite; a Shriner; a member of the Elks Lodge; a member of the American Legion; a member of the OSU Alumni Association; a member of the Association of United States Army and the Reserve Officers Association; and a Senior Member of the McAlester Board of Realtors (SOAR).

Bob is survived by his high school sweetheart and wife of over 70 years, Drue Saunier.  She was also his business partner, accountant and broker in their insurance and realty firms.  His surviving children are Pamela Husky and husband Dr. John Lolley, Robert Steven Saunier, and Randall Scott Saunier and his wife Mary.  He is also survived by his granddaughters, Audra Meadows and husband Duane, Candace Pahl and husband Mark, Stephanie Myers and husband Brett, Apple Saunier, Morgan Stevens and husband Cully, Madeline Zmek and husband Cameron, and Meredith Green and husband Dylan.  Great grandchildren include Olive and Hugh Meadows; Willa, Jude and Gwendolyn Myers; and Rowan Stevens.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Lorene Saunier, stepmother, Syvella Saunier; and a daughter, Debra Gwen Saunier.