Robert Paul Corley's Obituary
Robert Paul “Bob” Corley, 79, Ft. Myers, FL, formerly Sullivan, IL died October 24, 2016 in Lee Memorial Health Park, Ft. Myers. He was born on a farm near Herrick, in Shelby County Illinois, the son of E.J. “Dib” and Genevieve Rogers Corley on August 21, 1937.Robert attended Shady Lane a one room school, Herrick Grade and High Schools and Eastern Illinois University. He was a member of the Herrick Methodist Church. He married Glenda Sue Walker, daughter of Dr. Glen and Fleta Clark Walker of Farina, IL on July 2, 1960 in Farina; they were blessed with two children, Kevin Scott and Angela Renee.After schooling Robert worked for International Harvester Company in Springfield, Peoria, Carlinville, Decatur, IL, and Indianapolis IN. In between moves he served in the US Army for two years. In 1968 he purchased Larry Coffee, Inc. an IHC dealership in Sullivan, IL which became Corley International, Inc. He operated that along with other ventures until 1987. During those years he was elected and served as President of The Illinois Farm Equipment Dealers Assn, and President of Equitrac Insurance Company, a Bermuda Co. In 1984 he established and operated the Chrysler Auto dealership in Sullivan. In 1987 he merged the Farm Equipment dealership with other FE dealerships and became General Manager of Corley-Otto aka Arthur Farm Power with dealerships in Arthur, Mattoon & Shelbyville. At the same time he and Bill Stubblefield merged their Sullivan auto dealerships forming Corley-Stubblefield a Chrysler/GM dealership. In 1989 they sold that dealership to Kessler Motors of Indiana. In 1991 after severing his Farm Equipment business relationships he repurchased the Sullivan Chrysler & GM dealership from Kessler Motors. He owned and operated that dealership as Corley Auto Center until 1997 when he sold it to HPR Automotive Superstore. He and his wife Glenda then retired to golf, boat and travel, and in 2004 moved to Florida.Bob was active in Sullivan Lions Club as President, Sullivan Country Club as President, a Booster of Sullivan Singers and supported other High School athletic activities. He was the Chairman of the Moultrie County Sheriff Commission serving in that position for 15 years. He served at the Mayors request on the Tabor Park development committee developing that 20 acre park. He was instrumental in restructuring the present day corporate organization of the Little Theatre on the Square in Sullivan. He helped form and served as the President of the Lake Shelbyville Development Association to help get high water ramps constructed on the Lake. He was a loyal U of I Football & Basketball supporter, heading up the local Illini Quarterback Club. He & Glenda tailgated at almost all home football games, attended many bowl and out of state games to include the Final Four and the Rose Bowl. Bob was a golfer at the Sullivan CC and supporter of the HS and U of I golf teams. He snowmobiled locally and annually traveled with the family & friends to Wisconsin for many years while organizing a local Snow-N-Go club. He was a house boater on Lake Shelbyville and personal watercraft enthusiast. He along with Dr. Jerry Snyder of Decatur organized PWC tours for as many as 25 riders for trips down the entire Illinois, Mississippi, Tennessee, Cumberland and Kaskaskia Rivers and many other lakes and rivers that include numerous southern and western states including the Gulf of Mexico.Living in Florida at Gulf Harbour Yacht and Country Club in Fort Myers near Sanibel Island, he was active in the Club’s golf program. He served as chairman of two men’s golf leagues. He and his wife Glenda organized 12 annual away golf outings with as many as 108 members travelling to golf resorts throughout the Midwest and the Northeastern US. He was instrumental in forming the Gulf Coast Men’s Interclub league with eight clubs and served as the inaugural President for the first two years. He organized and started numerous other golf programs and games for Club members. For years he was the chief operator of the community’s closed circuit TV station on Comcast, Channel 195 and served on both the community and Club’s communication committees.Bob is survived by Glenda, his loving wife of 56 years. By son Kevin (Bonnie Clark) Corley of Westlake, TX, daughter Angela (Mark) Aukamp of Greenwood Village, CO. Grandsons Kevin Andrew & Robert Clark Corley, Granddaughters Emilee Anne & Elena Corley Aukamp, and Brooke Corley. He was preceded in death by his parents, a baby brother, and his in-laws.In lieu of flowers the family suggests a donation in Bob’s memory to The Heights Foundation which provides tutoring for kids struggling in school, job training for hard working parents and access to lifelong education and wellness to foster the creation of an entirely different future for families in one of Lee County’s neediest communities, Harlem Heights. Contributions can be mailed to 15570 Hagie Drive, Fort Myers, Florida 33908, or by calling (239) 482-7706.Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Fort Myers Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, 1589 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers, FL 33907, 239-936-0555. Online condolences may be made at:https://www.fortmyersmemorial.com/m/obituaries/Robert-Corley-3/MemoriesThe Family will hold a celebration of Bob’s life at the Gulf Harbour Golf and Country Club dining room in November. Later in the summer another celebration of his life will be held at Meyers Cemetery, Herrick, Illinois where his ashes will be laid to rest next to his Mother and Father.To share a story, leave a tribute or to offer condolences to the family at this difficult time please visit Robert’s memorial webpage at www.fortmyersmemorial.com and sign his guestbook.
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