Robert Lawton Risley

Robert Lawton (Bob) Risley passed away at the Silverado Lives Enriched facility in Costa Mesa, CA on Friday, April 7, 2017, due to complications from a stroke he suffered March 1, 1995. Robert was born on October 25,1930 in Poplar Bluff, MO. One of his favorite sayings was “Im rough and tough from Poplar Bluff”. He also lived in St. Louis and St. Joseph, MO. Education: Bob graduated from Central High School in St. Joe in 1948 and then attended the University of Missouri at Columbia where he was a member of Sigma Nu Fraternity and was elected Commander of Rho Chapter in 1950 and also was in the ROTC. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration as well as Orders to commence his military service as a 2nd Lt in the United States Air Force in June of 1952. Robert was an Intelligence Officer, and spent his time in Germany, leaving active service as a Captain but remained active in the reserves with the rank of Major. In 1954, Robert returned to the United States and began to study Law at the University of Kansas at Lawrence, Kansas, attaining his LLB in 1957 and his JD in 1968. He moved to Southern California where he spent the balance of his life. He also attended the University of Southern California at Los Angeles taking graduate studies in Taxation. Fight On! Career: Robert served as Vice President-Trust Officer at Title Insurance & Trust Company, Los Angeles 1957-1960; Vice President-Trust Officer, Ahmanson Trust Company, Beverly Hills 1960-1961; Senior Partner, law firm of Rutan & Tucker, Costa Mesa 1961-1982; Principal, law firm of Risley & Associates, Costa Mesa 1982-1999; and Principal, law firm of Larsen & Risley, Costa Mesa until he retired in 2001. He specialized in Trust & Estate Planning and Real Estate and had an AV preeminent rating by Martindale-Hubbell. He was a Certified Specialist in Taxation Law, by the California Board of Legal Specialization of the State Bar of California. Admitted to the State Bars: Kansas; California; District of Columbia;2 United States Tax Court; and the United States Supreme Court. Professional memberships: Kansas Bar Association; California Bar Association; American Bar Association; District of Columbia Bar Association; Lawyers Pilot Bar Association; and Orange County Bar Association. Kansas University Law Review, 1955-56; California Bar Association Continuing Education Committee, 1966-76; California Bar Association Public Relations Committee, 1969—73; American Bar Association Section of Real Estate & Probate Law; Delta Theta Phi Law Fraternity; Academician, International Academy of Estate & Trust Law; Fellow, American College of Probate Council; International Association of Financial Planners, Director, Orange County Chapter 1985-87; Newport Beach Estate Planning Council; Orange County Estate Planning Council, President, 1968; Orange County Charitable Giving Council; Delegate, Commission of the Californias, 1981-82. Other memberships: Order of St. Stanislas of Poland; Sovereign Order of the Oak; Grand Sovereign Dynastic Hospitaller, Order of St. John, Knights of Malta; Advisory Council Salvation Army of Orange County; Aircraft Owners and Pilot Association; National Rifle Association; Board of Directors, South Coast Institute of Gerontology; Orange County Financial Society; Kentucky Colonel in the Commonwealth of Kentucky; Newport Harbor Elks; a Quiet Birdmen; and a proud American and Republican. Honours: Grand Cross, Order of St. Stanislas of Poland; Grand Cross, Sovereign Order of the Oak; Knight of Grace, Grand Sovereign Dynastic Hospitaller of St. John, Knights of Malta; Grand Bailiff, Sovereign Order of the Oak; Men of Achievement; Who’s Who in Executives and Professionals. Masonic: Order of DeMolay in St. Joe, MO; Raised a 3rd degree Master Mason at Charity Lodge #331 in St. Joseph, MO and later transferred to Garden Grove Masonic Lodge #351; Nobles of the Mystic Shrine in Abdallah Temple, Kansas; Knights Templar of California; Royal Arch Masons of California; York Rite; Scottish Right; El Bekal Shriner. Hobbies: hunting, fishing, flying, reading, golfing, skiing, and traveling. Robert is survived by his loving wife of 25 years, Susan; his two sons, attorney Rob Risley and doctor Ron Risley; his two grandsons Matthew Quinn and Joshua Mark. Robert was preceded in death by his father, Elbert Lawton Risley, and his mother, Mary Ann Yarber Risley. Masonic service, presentation of Military Honors and Celebration of his Life set for Saturday, May 20, 2017 from 1:00-4:30 at The Pacific Club, 4110 MacArthur Blvd., Newport Beach, CA. Please RSVP to [email protected].