Robert "Bob" J. Christison

Robert "Bob" Christison Robert "Bob" Christison, 99, passed away Saturday March 26, 2016 at Morningside Center with his nephew Jerry Nibarger and his wife, Diane at his side. Bob was born on February 23, 1917, northwest of Chillicothe. His parents were William and Louisa Christison. Bob was a farmer. Known to many over the years as hard worker. Maybe even the hardest working man you ever met. His life began northwest of Chillicothe in the hills and hollers just west of the Grand River Mill. He attended Gibbs school - one of many one-room school houses dotting Livingston County back then. Starting with humble beginnings, Christison ended his formal education after the seventh grade. He later joined the CCC Camp in Sumner where he spent a year, living in barracks and helping build the levee which created the lake at Swan Lake National Wildlife Refuge. "It was kind of like an army," Bob recalled. "We had to be in uniform. We lived in barracks." When he first started farming with horses, Christison planted corn and hay. Soybeans, a traditional mainstay of most north Missouri farms today, had not yet been introduced. His first farm was 40 acres of land which he rented. He planted his first corn crop - 20 acres - in 1939 using a horse-drawn walk-behind plow. He began plowing gardens and digging basements in Chillicothe, using a team of horses. Bob relied on the genuine horse power for years before spending $600 on his first BF Avery in 1943 purchased from Montgomery Ward. His farming operation continued to grow. On December 9, 1959 he married Jerrie Nibarger. Together they became a well-known team for hard work and getting things done. In 1960, Bob and Jerrie got their Real Estate License and formed Christison Real Estate. As Bob had started a home construction business in addition to farming. His construction was responsible for building several houses throughout Chillicothe. He began development of Sunnyslope Addition (Jansen Street) in 1957. Upon completion of this addition he then began the Christison Addition (west Polk St). Through the expansion of real estate Bob was well known for selling farms and Jerrie for selling homes and maintaining the office. The farm operation had expanded to include a cow calf operation numbering 300 head or more at times. The row crop operation had grown to over a 1000 acres of corn wheat and soybeans. Many a youth of Chillicothe have worked in the hayfields of the Christison's putting up hay in small bales for years. (25,000 plus bales per year) With the advent of the large hay bales the small hay bale business ended. Bob and Jerrie worked side by side throughout their life together. Many a family member were seen to be working with them at times. Several of the nephews and nieces gained experience through the years. One of the joys of Bob's life was making the trip to the John Deere Waterloo plant in 2007. Bob was able to walk beside his new tractor being put together on the assembly line. He was the first to start and drive his tractor. From horses to a high horsepower tractor. He lived his dream. Bob was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Jeralene (Jerrie) Christison, Barbara Lewis, sister, Leona Burgett, sister and his son Richard Christison. Survivors include sisters; Joan Brune and Martha Weyh, brother; Bill Christison. Nephews; Jerry Nibarger, (Diane) and Bill Brune (Pat) along with many other nephews and nieces. Funeral services will be held at the Lindley Funeral Home, Chillicothe, Missouri, on Thursday, March 31, 2016, at 2:00 p.m. A scheduled family visitation will be held at the Lindley Funeral Home, Chillicothe, Missouri, on Thursday, March 31, 2016, one hour prior to the service from 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. Friends may call at the Lindley Funeral Home, Chillicothe, Missouri, on Wednesday, March 30, 2016, from 8:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Burial will be held at Edgewood Cemetery, Chillicothe, Missouri. Memorial contributions may be made to Blue Mound Cowboy Church and may be left at or mailed to Lindley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 47, Chillicothe, Missouri 64601. Online condolences may be made at www.lindleyfuneralhomes.com . Arrangements are under the direction of Lindley Funeral Home, Chillicothe, Missouri.