Lily farmer Stanhurst dies at 89

Death marks end of an era in Smith River

Well-known Smith River lily farmer Robert H. “Bob” Stanhurst, 89, died Thursday at his home in Brookings, Ore.

Stanhurst was born June 1, 1921, in Brookings, and died just a few blocks from where he was raised.

He ran Robert H. Stanhurst Inc.

Stanhurst was a lily bulb farmer for 60 years and worked tirelessly to create a successful business, his wife, Merlyn Stanhurst, said Friday. 

“He was a very good businessman and very sharp,” she said.

Harry Harms, general manager of Hastings Bulb Growers Inc., told The Daily Triplicate he knew Stanhurst for about 35 years.

“We worked pretty closely because our farms were partly attached,” Harms said. “He was just a very easygoing guy and a pleasure to get along with.”

Harms said Stanhurst’s sense of humor and work ethic added to his likable personality. 

With one more of the area’s original lily bulb farmers gone, Harms said an era is coming to an end.  

“It’s always hard to see, he’s sort of the last of that generation,” Harms said. “It’s tough to see that generation completely gone.”

Besides being a dedicated farmer, Stanhurst enjoyed traveling and going on cruises once or twice a year. Merlyn Stanhurst said they went on about 25 cruises throughout the years. 

“We had a good life and cruised all over the world,” she said. “We went to South America, New Zealand,  and even Copenhagen, Denmark.”

Mrs. Stanhurst said one of her most recent fond memories of her husband involved spending time with him in Nevada.

“We went to Las Vegas and saw Wayne Newton,” she said.

Stanhurst attended the University of Oregon for four years after graduating high school. After college, he became a lieutenant (junior grade) in the Navy stationed in Southampton, England. 

He is survived by his wife and children Nora Olson, Sharon Garrison, Deborah Coe, Steven Pomerleau, Diane Wiley and Sandra Trujillo. He has numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Burial services will be held at the WJ Ward Memorial Cemetery in Brookings on Tuesday at 2 p.m. A memorial service will be held at the Elks Lodge Club in Brookings on Thursday at 3 p.m.