Doctor Robert Preston Saylor beat down Heaven's Gate on December 28, 2015, and demanded an audience with Aristotle.  We suspect the robust debate still continues!  He was born in Hampton, Iowa, on April 3, 1951, to Darrell Saylor and Catherine Bishop Saylor.  His family moved to Sioux City, Iowa his freshman year of high school where he met his soul mate and future bride, Marcelene McMartin.  They married on Valentine's Day, 1970.  Bob attended Morningside College and graduated in May of 1973.  He was accepted into Medical School and graduated from the University of Minnesota in December 1977.  Upon graduation, he joined the United States Army and was stationed at Fitzsimons Army Medical Center in Denver, Colorado, where he completed his internship and Internal Medicine residency.  In June of 1980, he moved to San Antonio, Texas, where he did his Fellowship in Nephrology at Brooke Army Medical Center.  From there he was stationed at William Beaumont Army Medical Center in El Paso, Texas, where he served as Chief of Nephrology Services from January 1983 - December 1985.  After serving in the Army for eight years, he left with the rank of Major and re-entered the civilian world.  He began his own private Nephrology practice in Sioux City, Iowa, in early 1986.  He loved practicing in Sioux City.  The patients and other physicians were wonderful, but his inability to find a suitable partner to share the load made it necessary to relocate.  He came to Springfield, Missouri in 1989 and spent 18 years with Springfield Nephrology.  Bob always loved taking care of his patients and received his greatest joy when he was able to see one of them get transplanted with a donor kidney--The Gift of Life!

Bob was always a lover of philosophy.  He devoured books on all of the early scholars.  After much thoughtful soul searching, he decided to go back to school and study Bioethics.  He received his Masters Degree in May of 2007 from The Medical College of Wisconsin.  He was offered the job of Director of Ethics at Mercy, Springfield, and served in that capacity until his diagnosis of Glioblastoma (brain cancer) at the end of October 2014.  Bob thrived in his role as Ethics Director.  He loved meeting with families and other physicians and discussing end of life issues.  He loved meeting daily with his Palliative Care team.  He loved making rounds at the hospital and connecting with the doctors and nurses.  Bob was a gifted speaker and teacher and he absolutely loved the opportunity to guide students and help them learn.

Bob was a member of many associations and held numerous professional positions over the course of his career, but the one position he held dear to his heart was his involvement with Mid-America Transplant Services.  He became a board member in 1992 and became a part of the Executive Committee in 2001 -- until the present.  He was passionate about the good work that MTS does and the lives that are saved as a result of organ donation.  Bob was able to donate his corneas.

Bob is survived by his wife of 45 years, Marcelene McMartin Saylor.  He has four children: Robert Saylor, Jr. (Shawn Marie) St Louis; Jennifer Saylor Bryant (Peter) Springfield; Ryan Saylor, Tucson Az; Shawn P. Saylor, Albuquerque, NM.  He has seven grandchildren:  Lauren, 22; Haley, 16; Luke, 16; Austin, 14; Kaiya, 6; Judah, 4; Triton, 2.  He also is survived by three brothers, Richard Saylor, Dubuque, Ia; Garrie Saylor, Sioux City, Ia; James Saylor, Crestline, Ca.

Bob enjoyed many hobbies including boating, fishing, hunting, reading and traveling.  Above all, he enjoyed being with his family and friends.  His life was cut way too short by this incurable cancer.  He endured two brain surgeries, radiation and chemotherapy, and even tried the Optune Therapy.  Bob fought the good fight and lost the battle.  He is no longer suffering.  He is finally at peace.  He was loved by many and will be greatly missed by family, friends and co-workers.

A visitation will be held on Monday evening, January 4, from 6 till 8 p.m. at Brentwood Christian Church, 1900 E. Barataria, Springfield, Mo, 65804.  The Memorial Service will be held Tuesday, the 5th at 11:00 a.m. at Brentwood Christian Church, under the direction of Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home, followed by a ceremony and Interment of cremated ashes at 1:00 p.m. at the Veterans Cemetery off 65 and Evans Road.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Mid-America Transplant Services (specify the family housing units), 1110 Highlands Plaza Dr. #100, St. Louis, Mo 63110.  Telephone: 314-735-8200 Or donations also may be made to Hospice Compassus, 1465 E Primrose St, Springfield, Mo, 65804.  Telephone:  417-882-1245