I was contacted by a friend of Russell's and Pat back in the day. She did not know that Russell had passed away. She shared with me a story about one of the conceryts they went to and just sat out on a blanket. Russell had a bushy beard and was just chilling enjoying the music it seems. He loved going to the concerts out in Phoenix. Not sure what all happened to pat and the young lady (sorry I cannot remember at the moment her name) but she will try and find out and get back to me.

 
 
Happy Birthday up in Heaven
from your family here below.
We love you and we miss you,
and want to let you know.
 
Your birthdays aren’t forgotten.
and your memory yet lives on.
We celebrate your life with us
even though you’ve gone.
 
Were God to grant us just one wish,
then make that wish come true,
you’d be here right beside us
and we’d spend this day with you.
 
And while here for your birthday
you would be so hugged and kissed
that you would know before you go
how much you’re loved and missed.

Happy Fathers day Russell, sure do miss your smile and joining us at Dennys.
I am getting excited about the reunion so all could see the tree and I get pictures of each one. Hopefully BJ and his family will be here...I know you would like and especially looking down on us and laughing as you always did at Reunion time.
BJ was always the one making those great drinks you liked and bar b queing along side with Herbie....

The cousins will be all around with excitement so I am sure we planted (or hope so) a seed for the Bob & Ruth Family Reunion   

I have to admit taht my dad's name has been carried on through 3 generations...My son Bobby, was named after both his grandparents, Bobby Ray...then we have Russell's son Bobby Joe. My brother had to call my dad when Bobby was born to make sure it was ok to use his name and name his son Bobby Joe the 2nd. then my son Bobby, had a son who he named after him, Bobby Ray Staudt Jr. Then Bobby-Russell's son (whom he was so proud to see)  had a son and named him Bobby Joe Jr....so see all the Bobby's in this family has a very strong influence...there Papa...and he woluld be so proud of everyone of them :) My son's boy Bobby Jr somehow diod not make it in this picture...we will have to fix that this summer...:)

Russell was so proud of his son. He had overcame some obstacles at young age and perseveered . These days you never see that, people just seem to give up....but not Bobby. He always has an answer and one thing he got from his Papa was the will to succeed no matter what. I guess that is why I love him so much, he is just like his sister Ty...no matter what came up they never will gave in...I just noticed him and his sister has that Wren smile... 

My Brother Russell would sit at the Gazebo for hours reading a book, playing dominoes and just enjoying the beautiful willow trees around there.

The old folklore concerning the willow tree is "the Osage tribe of Oaklahoma tells the tale of a young man whose mind was racked with questions about the meaning of life. He journeyed out into the world to seek wisdfom from dreams. He had no dreams until he came to an old willow tree. the legend is about the wisdom that comes with age, and for the Osage the willow represented the stability and strength of age and experience." My older brother, Robert, always believed were part of the Osage tribe per my mom...it would be cool if we were :)


Now, if anything represents my brother is that the Willow Tree describes him to a tee. He always wanted to tgravel america and see what is out there and learn form that experience.  He never did give up that dream....  

I received a card today and it was beautiful!!!! Enclosed in the card was a letter to me, with memories of my brother. I want to share this with you. My brother Russell touched many lives.

"OK Marilyn, I have a-searched huundreds of poems, sympathy verses and such o express my feelings for Russell's transition into heaven. The truth is, I haven't experienced the loss of a sister or brother, yet I always thought all of us woulod live forever and supposed we'd all go at once."

"I know of times when Russell "influenced" my life. I would not trade any of them differently. Ok so we got in a bit of trouble, HA! Who hasn't when we were growing up? that is what makes us what we will become later in life. You either improve or become someone nobody respects. He overcame visus many men did not have the strength of.

:I have found memories, one summer of when Russell, Gary Efflin, I and others drove our motorcycles to somewherfe in New Mexico to their girlfriend, Bobby Joe,  Mary Joe or something, but she had huge tits! Ahhh, Billy Jean!!! I learned about tunneling behind semi's-catching a free ride, bugs in your teeth and wind burn.

Even getting caught stealing motorcycles was a good memory. Not that Russell had anything to do with it...Also, remeber Mike Medlock sleeping over and introduced me to "sniffing gas" I was so toasted.  Still cannot stand the smell today of gasoline. Well, you might ask Gary about the motorcycles.....

From this, Russell showed me the love of motoercycles that I still have today. Their has not been a time in my life since then that I have not had one, ever! So thank you Russell!!!!! Ride on my friend--- Love Kit

I do remember Kit having a motorcycle i think it was a yamaha...not sure of color but did share a picture of one...Russell influenced a lot of people...good and some bad...but never regretted a day in his life.

While in the hospital, my dad kept telling Kim and then me about his little bag of treasures and he was very concerned that I would not find it and get it.  He said they were little things he collected along his life and he really wanted me to have it.  After he passed away, Bobby and I had the task of cleaning out the apartment and we came across the little bag of treasures exactly where he had it. I was so touched, and packed it away immediately... excited to sit sometime and really look at his treasures.  My dad was a simple man... I had the benefit of having two parents that were both that way when I was growing up. I feel I am pretty simple myself. It is always the little things that tickle me.  
Since I have had the bag, little things have been laid in front of me... kind of like he tossed them at me to see if I would catch it. ;-)
First, I came across a Mother's Day card that he wrote to my grandmother that thanked her for teaching him to enjoy the "little things of life". I thought back to the little things he had in that bag.... 
Then, yesterday... I was feeling depressed and needed to "get out", so we went looking at garage sales... I was feeling good and the weather was great and I was looking for hidden treasures of my own..... when I came across one that had a hard copy of the Peter Pan book and I grabbed it up thinking, wow... I can have one of his favorite stories in hard back since I only had a very old 45 record book of the story from when I was a kid.  I paid and as we were walking away, I found a little "treasure box"... I got all giddy and my husband took it back up to her to pay, and she looked at me and said to just take it... ;-)  I felt like a kid (gave her 3 quarters anyway... because that is just how I am), but I was so excited to come home with it. The little treasures - rocks, charm, magnify glass, WWII medals ( I think were my grandfathers), special coins, etc  - all fit beautifully into this child version of a treasure chest. I thought it was so perfect! He is probably shaking his head and smiling down on how crazy I am, but like everyone knows who knows me... I have not "grown up" either!  
Dad, your treasures are safe! ;-) 

My brother always enjoyed being in the hot tub at raintree. He told me it helped him alot with the pain but then he was no longer able to get in by himsedlf the last 2 years....but he did love it as yhou can see.

Thisd picture was taken when I came home the summer of 2009. Russell was so glad to see me again as well as my mom. The time I was away really made me feel how lucky I was top have such a great brother. He would do anyuthing for me especially help my older son move out of El Paso. Him and Gary brought my son and his family to me in Victoria....

Russell loved Raintree, he always told the manager, Yvonne, she has been such a great friend to my brother and always made sure that whatever he needed he got. She used to sit at the Gazebo and talk with him and he would make her laugh so much.

The maintenance staff at Raintree has always helped Russell. He loved everyone one of them and would tease with Carlos alot.

The biggest thing was our family having their Reunion there with Russell. The one thing I know he would not want to happen is the reunion stopping. We must carry on for russel as he shines on us each year during the reunion at Raintree.

I had to share this with everyone for no better tribute to my brother and his dad....I love you Bobby and all of us are here for you my dear Nephew.

Well, I lost my father today and I really don't know how to adjust the near future without him, the good die young is just not fitting enough for a man like him, he taught me how to be independent , taught me to live and die by my morals, was my biggest fan even on a rainy day, always believed in me when others told him I'd fail or end up regretting my decisions... Funny thing is that I learned through him that you thoroughly have to "LIVE" life and live it your way by any means necessary and to take life by the horns and enjoy the ride the best you can. Cheers to you Dad, to the man that was more than an inspiration , more than a jokester , more than a hippy..cheers to the best dad that a kid could've asked for..I know that he's sprinting with two legs to the nearest pub in Neverland to have a beer with my papa ...love you dad , my son will hear every story you ever told.

I know this is a sad day for everyone here. I wouold like to share some fond memories and personal atributes that made Russell such a special person.

My brother was very protective of me, good and bad, when I was younger. This always bothered me but now as I look back, I know my brother loved me alot and wanted the best for me. He was always there for me when I needed him and I knew that I could always talk with. I trusted my brother a lot and we were both able to share secrets with each other.

One of the things I admired abolut Russell, is that even with polio he never let that interfere with his life. He had a carefree attitude and always had a smile on his face. His easy-going relaxed nature made him a delight to be around. He had a lot of friends and was always the life of the party.

Russell also had his serious side and was not even afraid to share his emotions. He may not have graduated from PHS, but he will always be a part of class of 69. He left school and went out on his own to get off the drugs or as he told my mom, he will die if he stayed here. He conqured so much and lived through all the pain of withdrawals. But, he did it and in his own way.

Some of my brother's favorite things besides his family and friends was hi passion for the Wrestling and NASCAR. He loved going to family reuions with mom in Lampasas sitting around the picnic table telling stories. I remember one time when we went to the reunion it was around the 4th. Russell and some others went anf=d got fireworks and set them off in the back of the motel...not sure if it was to scare my brother Lee Roy or anyone else, but everyone was laughing. He would always be the joker, took after our dad that way.

I will miss Russell more than words can say. We should all be thankful for knowing him and his time here on earth. I hope that everyone will remember what a  wonderful person he was and that his memory will continue to live on in our hearts and and his family.

I do hope that you will share a memory of russell. that is why I made this page so all could share the life of russell.

When I had my boys and Russell came to visit him and Herb would tease around with Russell telling the boys to call Herb Turkey. Well needless to say it backfired and my boys starting calling him Uncle Turkey. He is the only one who had 2 birthdays..his regular birthday and then Thaksgiving..He did love my boys and tried so hard to get Herb back :)