Robert Edward Toler (Bob)
Jan. 20, 1937 - Feb. 17, 2025

Robert Edward Toler (Bob) a long-time resident of Fortuna passed away in his home on May 17. 2025 with his loved ones by his side.

Bob was born in Tacoma Washington to Sarah (Emma) Chapman and Jarrett (Ed)ward Toler. They called Morton their hometown until 1946, when they moved to California, where the timber industry was flourishing. Bob’s father Ed started a Railroad tie mill in Scotia. His mother, Emma went to work at The Pacific Lumber Company as the office manager. They bought a home in Alton, which is where Bob and his younger brother Jerry grew up. He attended Fortuna Union High School and graduated in the class of 1955.

After high school, Bob worked for his father making railroad ties. Sometime later he worked for Phillips 66 hauling fuel around Humboldt and Trinity counties. Eventually he bought a Texaco service station in Fortuna on Main Street, where L’s Kitchen is now. After a few years, he sold the service station and went to work in the woods for Braun Logging. As much as he loved logging, he wanted to do something different. So he went to work at Pacific Lumber Company for the next 30 years as a millwright and retired in 1997.

As a kid Bob and his brother both had a passion for music and loved to play the guitar. Bob had a gifted talent and played by ear. He played in several bands and dance clubs throughout his years. His family loved to sit around and listen to him play and sing which was one of his many other talents. Bob played a lot of Kenny Rogers, Meryle Haggard, George Jones, Clint Black, George Straight and Alan Jackson, to name only a few. A couple of songs that are most memorable that he played were Lucille by Kenny Rogers, and King of the Road by Roger Miller. Bob always said, “There are only two kinds of music, country and western.”

He loved to build things and he did it well. He bought a piece of property just outside of Fortuna in 1969. The house there was a bit of a shack. but not in his eyes. He put his carpentry skills to work and built a workshop and turned that shack into a really nice home for him and his family.

He loved gardening and canning veggies, fruits, and meats. He took a lot of pride in his apple orchard, where he had 13 different kinds of apples. At the end of apple harvest he had so many apples that he did not know what to do with them all. His friend Bill up the road turned him on to his apple press and so making apple cider became a new tradition. He had the perfect mix of apples for the most delicious cider ever.

He loved the great outdoors and all it had to offer. He excelled in hunting and ab diving, but fishing was his favorite sport. If there were fish to be caught, he would be there. During salmon season not much in his everyday normal life mattered but fishing and making his smoked salmon which he was famous for. He always had friends that would bring him fish to smoke for them.

He spent a lot of time out on the ocean with his best fishing buddy and son-in-law Gerald Cawvey and his loving companion Joan Biss. When it was not salmon season you would probably find him and Joan out on the water at Ruth fishing for crappie.

Bob is preceded in death by his parents, Jarrett Edward Toler and Sarah Emma Toler; his wife, Billie Ann Toler; brother, Jerry Toler; and bonus son, Mike Hess.

He is survived by his long-time love, Joan Biss; his two living children, Kevin Toler (Kathy) and Jennifer Boak (John); bonus children, Deb Cawvey (Gerald), Susie Matson (Larry), Barb Taylor (Stacey), and Angela Yates (Gene); grandchildren, Zachary Toler, Shelbi Viera, John Cawvey, Jason Cawvey, Bryan Cawvey, Bo Matson, Corey Matson, Jerrett Matson, Jake Hess, Jerrica Taylor, Tanner Taylor, Ashleigh Johnson, Brandon Van Loon, Michaela Yates, and Robbie Yates; niece, MayLynn Toler; and nephew, John Toler (Carol).

Friends and family, please join us for a memorial and potluck at The Church of the Nazarene Fellowship Hall in Fortuna on Aug 2, 2025 at 2 p.m. Please bring your favorite dish.

A special thanks to Hospice of Humboldt and to dad’s care giver Terri DalPorto for all the special care you gave dad and for always being there when we needed you.

In Lieu of flowers, please donate in Robert’s name to Hospice of Humboldt 3327 Timber Fall Ct, Eureka, CA 95503.