Bob Bryant – One of the good guys


Robert Allen Bryant who was known as “Bob”, the former owner of Baldy's Roadhouse in Milton, WA, died in Tacoma on January 07, 2014. Bob, 69 years old, was born to Marie Hotsko and Edward Bryant, Sr. of Stanwood WA. He is survived by his wife, Sherry Bryant, his 4 daughters, Kim, Becky, Natalie Rose, and Kristy. Through his lovely daughters he has 11 grandchildren and one great-grandson. Bob is also survived by 3 step-children Joseph, Jeanette, and Sarah who all love him greatly. Through them he and his wife are blessed with 7 grandchildren. Bob is also survived by his older brother Edward Bryant , Edwards 3 children, their children, several cousins and their children.

Bob grew up in Stanwood, Washington where his grandfather, Alonzo Bryant, had been mayor for several years and his parents ran Bryant Hardware. His father also was mayor between 1950-1954. Bob went to public school all his life and graduated from Twin City High School with the class of 1962. Growing up he was active in football, basketball, boy scouts and mischief.

Bob married his first wife, Mary Beth soon out of high school. He worked in several professions, cannery, law enforcement, auto sales, service and parts. He hobbied in music and racing and excelled in almost everything he worked at. He often advanced to manager at his jobs but was uncomfortable staying where he found business practices questionable.

In Bob's early 30's he took a part-time job as a bartender to help out a friend in a restaurant; there he found his true career love – Hospitality. He was a natural born host and quit his job to bar tend full time. It's uncertain what drew him but, he moved to California for a few years and was a restaurant assistant manager in the San Francisco area till the illness of his mother brought him back to Washington state.

After settling his mother's estate in 1996, Bob bought a pub & grill called Baldy's in Milton, Washington. He was a huge success with the locals as a well as anyone who happened to discover Baldy's off the beaten path. He often had customers travel from all ends of Washington and from other states to spend an evening at Baldy's. Unfortunately the success he enjoyed on weekends could not cover the costs of updating and maintaining such an old building and in at the end of 2000 Bob had to close the doors for the last time. His wife always told him that he was not a failure just because he had to close because people still talk about missing Bob and Baldys to this day.

After closing Baldy's, Bob moved to California with his new bride and landed a job the first day in town as a restaurant manager for Fresh Choice which is Zoopas in Washington. He worked at the Colma, California restaurant for 3 years. With his wife's health failing quickly due to allergies to all California pollen and air, he was promised a transfer to Zoopas in Tacoma, Washington to bring her closer to her children. However, the manager that was to leave that position changed their mind and when Bob & Sherry arrived back in Washington the job was no longer available.
Bob was ever a resourceful being. He went to work temporary and part-time for about a year before taking a position at the Muckleshoot Casino as a bartender. He remained at this job for over 10 years and was still employed with them on the day he passed from a pulmonary anabolism.

Bob was always willing to help anyone in need, not just his friends and family. He would often reach out to the less fortunate. He extended a hand of friendship to anyone who needed one. People often took advantage of his giving heart but that was a price he was willing to pay to be there for the ones who were sincere.

Bob was well loved by wife, family, friends, church family, customers, and his employers. He was kind to everyone he met and was happy to befriend everyone and anyone he knew. He was one of the good guys and will be hugely missed by all.

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