Robert Douglas Prior died peacefully at his home in Eureka on April 12, 2025 just about a month before his 93 birthday.

He was born in Fresno on May 22, 1932 to Harold and Uarda Prior. The family, including younger sister Carole, would move soon thereafter to Fortuna after Harold’s transfer within Bank of America. They would move, yet again, to Arcata before a final move to Eureka during Bob’s fifth-grade year.

Bob attended Eureka High School, and at one point was elected student body president. His fondest childhood memories centered around the family ranches and working for the family cattle business Tooby & Prior. He loved to be on horseback, gathering and moving cattle, with a particular fondness for the twice yearly trips moving cattle to and from the summer range between Blocksburg and the area surrounding the Lassics. Bob would talk fondly about the wonderful swimming hole located on the Eel River at Ft. Seward, and somewhat less fondly about less glamorous ranch jobs, such as pulling Klamath Weed by hand in the hot summer sun. As a side note to the fruitless efforts to manage Klamath Weed, he recalls a time where he and his father were alongside the road below Blocksburg and devising a plan to pull burning tires behind horses in an attempt to kill the noxious weed. At that time a car pulled up, addressed the pair, and after learning of their battle with Klamath Weed, introduced themselves as Humboldt County officials and said that they had just received a shipment of beetles from Australia that were said to eat and kill Klamath Weed. Klamath Weed was successfully controlled and eventually eradicated from that point forward.

After graduation from Eureka High School, Bob applied and was accepted to Stanford University. It was his intent to go to college, get an education, and return home to begin a career in ranching. He once described that he, at one point as an undergrad, “caught the law bug” and chose to enroll in Stanford Law School. While at Stanford, he roomed for a year with good childhood friend John Morrison, who would later become a locally respected attorney and judge. Bob also had many fond memories of his involvement, while at Stanford, with the SAE fraternity…not likely appropriate to be shared in this format. Final memories of his time at college include his trips home on the train from Stanford to the station in Ft. Seward where he would depart and travel to one of the family ranches to start his summer’s work.

After graduation from law school, Bob quickly joined the United States Army and began his time in the military at Fort Ord in 1957 and finished at Fort Lewis in 1963. During those early years of military service he must have also found the time to study for the upcoming bar exam, and would eventually pass the grueling test and be admitted to the California Bar Association on December 18,1957. Most important during this period of his life, however, would be his marriage to his wife Lois. The two were married for 54 years until Lois’ passing in 2016. Bob once recalled, to a family member, the first time he met Lois was in a math class at Eureka High School, and described her as the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Lois brought two children, Joe and Sue Villa, into their relationship. Bob considered Joe and Sue as his own, and acted as their father thereafter. Bob found great pride in all of Joe and Sue’s accomplishments and cherished the times spent throughout the years with them and their families.

In 1968, Bob and Lois welcomed their own child into the world. Chris would become Bob’s sidekick for weekend ranch adventures both in the mountains and locally in the bottoms. The red Toyota Landcruiser was the vehicle most often used for these weekend jaunts, and would frequently make stops to Mr. Swiss for an ice cream or Richard Miller motorcycles to check out the latest bikes.

Bob was both incredibly accomplished, but also a very simple man in so many ways. His distinguished law career spanned 65 years as a partner with the prestigious Huber & Goodwin Law Firm and finally on his own in later years. This incredible professional achievement was balanced in the way he lived his life away from his legal practice. He and long-time Tooby & Prior employee and dear friend Don Wahlund partnered in their own ranching operation for many years. D & B Cattle Company gave Bob a much needed refuge from the busy grind as an attorney … his heart always seemed to be with the ranches. Hunting was also one of his favorite get away activities, with trips to the ranch in Blocksburg, and later Pipe Creek, for deer hunting and frequent pheasant hunting trips with a wonderful group of friends to various clubs in the valley. One of his favorite hunting partners was his father-in-law Herb Bunker. Bob was incredibly close with in-laws Herb and Claudine Bunker. Bob, Lois, and family would spend nearly every holiday at Herb and Claudine’s where cocktail hour went long and the food was amazing. Much later, holiday cooking would be taken over by Chris’ wife Patti. Bob adored Patti in every way, but was particularly enamored with her cooking skills. He loved his many grandkids, and made every attempt to never miss their activities, sports, and rodeos. He also had a favorite weekly lunch group of good friends and was constantly in search of a new restaurant.

Additional achievements include his 46-year membership with the Eureka Rotary that met on Mondays at noon. Bob was a director on the Humboldt County Fair Board for 61 years, up until his passing. He is credited with being the longest-ever standing California Fair Association member, and was board president 1990-1991. He was a long time member of the Ingomar Club and also past president. He was a founding member of the Christine and Jalmer Berg Foundation, founded at the request of longtime client Jalmer Berg.

Bob is preceded in death by his wife Lois, parents Harold and Uarda Prior, son Joe Villa, in-laws Herb and Claudine Bunker, sister-in-law Pat Bunker, sister Carole Launer and her husband Lloyd and also their children Adrianne and Jeff.

Bob is survived by son Chris Prior (Patti), daughter Sue Parfitt (Dennis), daughter-in-law Fran Villa. He is also survived by grandkids, Brooks Parfitt, Grant Parfitt (Anna Joy), Megan Krapf (John), Cameron Villa (Jamee), Nicole Villa (Nate), Blake Villa (Allison), Paden Prior, Parker Prior, great grandchildren Tyler, Poppy, Helena, and Jack. He is also survived by niece Stephanie Launer, and niece Lisa Pulver (Tony) and their children Shannon and Shawn and their respective children.

The family would like to express their gratitude to Bob’s special friend Marsha Daly who entered his life in his final years and provided love and companionship, a relationship that allowed him to remain at home which was something he so dearly wanted.Special appreciation is also extended to longtime friend Carolyn Turner, and Dean Quintrell, “the fishguy.” Finally, the family is eternally grateful to Jack Rice who so eloquently officiated the family graveside service.

Family and friends are invited to attend a celebration of life at the Ingomar Club on Saturday, May 3, between the hours of 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Bob Prior’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.