Robert Lee Stanton, the son of Bill and Mabel (Garst) Stanton, was born June 8, 1925, in Hamburg, Iowa. He attended Watson, Missouri, High School, graduating in 1943. He then attended one semester at the University of Missouri- Columbia, Columbia, Missouri.

On August 17, 1946, Robert Lee was united in marriage to Cassalou Fischer and they made their home on the Stanton family farm in Watson. In 1959, they moved to Rock Port, Missouri, and in 1961, they moved to Kawaihae, Hawaii, where for ten years, they owned and operated a cattle feeding operation and grain elevator with Ed and Margaret Payton. In 1964, they returned to Rock Port and built a new home on Stanton Drive. In 1971, they sold the Hawaii cattle operation to focus on their farming operation in Missouri and Leesburg, Florida. Cassalou passed away November 16, 2004. On January 13, 2006, Robert Lee was united in marriage to Doris Ann Schmidt. They made their home in Rock Port to the present time. Robert Lee passed away Thursday, February 4, 2016, at Community Hospital-Fairfax, Fairfax, Missouri, at the age of 90.

Robert Lee was an incorporating director and former President of the Board of the Rock Port Telephone Cooperative where he served for over 50 years. During his tenure he led the board to national involvement by being active in National Telephone Cooperative Association where he received the Director of Life Achievement Award and was appointed to the Rural Telephone Bank by President Jimmy Carter and also served under Presidents Bill Clinton and George Bush. Robert Lee had a great love and passion for Northwest Missouri State University where he served as a Board of Regent for 12 years and the Northwest Foundation Board for 6 years as co-chair of the Bearcat Stadium construction committee. For his dedication and commitment he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate Degree and received the alumni association Honorary Alumni Award. Robert Lee succeeded his father Bill on the Bank of Atchison County Board serving from 1960-1993. Robert Lee was a founding member of the Missouri Beef Packers, a 50 year member of the Atchison County Levee District, Governors Agricultural Ambassador and many other boards, organizations and community development projects.

Besides his parents and wife, Cassalou, Robert Lee was preceded in death by stepmother, Clara Stanton; sister, Hope Furkin and brother-in-law Buford Furkin, brother, Donald Paul Stanton; step brothers, Robert Ladd and Donald Houchin; brothers-in-law, Clarence (Tim) Wessler, Jim Hollingsworth and Johnnie Dragoo; nieces, Deon Wessler Starman and Exa Lewis; nephews, Cory Stanton, Mike Beckman, Richard Broermann and Doug Beckman.

Survivors include wife, Doris Ann Stanton, Rock Port; siblings, Viola Hollingsworth, Magnolia, Delaware, Emma Easley and husband, Gary, Rock Port, Sharon Martin, Evergreen, Colorado; sisters-in-law, Deloris Stanton and Shirley Wessler, Rock Port, Mary Lou Broermann and husband, Gene, Tarkio, Missouri, and Betty Beckman and husband, Lowell, Maryville, Missouri; nieces, Lesa McCartney and husband, Jack, Kirksville, Missouri, Gale Quillen, Jennifer Martin, Stephanie Martin, Cheri Stanton Zimmerman, Judy Stanton Walker, Mable Furkin Smith, Nancy Smith, Katherine Cox, Phyllis Brown, Jill Caudill, Mary Ellen Oswald, Debbie Lindsay; nephews, Zane Easley, Sean Easley, Berri Easley, Jimmy Hollingsworth, Mike Ladd, Dennis Ladd, Dan Stanton, Robert Keith Stanton, David Broermann, Phil Beckman, Mark Davis; great nieces and nephews, Kinsey McCartney, Courtney Gerster, Dr. Jay Stanton, Amy Petersen, Austin Walker, Heather Homchick; and many other nieces and nephews; extended family, Mike and Mary Orlin, Milton, Florida, Tom and Debbie Orlin, Sharp Chapel, Tennessee, Guilio and Sandy Comacchio, Scottsdale, Arizona, and Shay James, Jackson, Wyoming.

Funeral Services: 10:00 A.M., Monday, February 8, 2016, United Methodist Church, Rock Port.
Interment: High Creek Cemetery, Watson, Missouri.
Open visitation begins 9:00 A.M., Sunday, February 7, 2016, Minter Funeral Chapel, where the family will receive friends from 2:00-4:00 P.M.
Memorials: High Creek Cemetery, Watson, United Methodist Church, Rock Port, or Community Hospital-Fairfax, Fairfax, Missouri
Online obituaries and condolences at www.minterfuneralchapels.com
Services under the direction of Minter Funeral Chapel, Rock Port.