Robert James Edward Boyer

MISSOULA – Robert James Edward Boyer, 42, of Missoula, passed away suddenly at home on Monday, Jan. 14, 2013.

He was born on June 16, 1970, in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, to Robert Edward and Ann Boyer. As a young boy, he grew up in northern Canada, later moving to Regina, where he attended Martin Leboldus High School and the University of Regina. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in education, specializing in English and visual arts.

After graduating from university, he traveled with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus as a chaperone and English teacher. He moved to Montana in 1993 and taught high school for six years in Ronan. Then he moved to Missoula and taught in the Missoula school system, including at Big Sky High School for seven years before returning to further his education at the University of Montana, receiving a Master of Fine Arts in media arts in 2009. Since 2009, Bob was an adjunct professor, teaching Media Arts and Native American Studies at the University of Montana. In the summer of 2012, Bob served as the head instructor for the Brazil Science Without Borders Research Project.

Bob enjoyed writing, directing and producing original documentary and narrative films. He strived to further his knowledge and experience as a contemporary artist in the visual arts field. Throughout his life, Bob was a prolific poet, painter, photographer and filmographer. His short film "Apanii Ootukk" won first place for short drama in two 2009 film festivals, the Big Island Indigenous Film Festival in Hawaii and the Cleveland Independent Film Festival. He displayed his artwork in juried art shows and had several poem collections published.

Bob was a great fan of the creation of story in its many diverse formats. Growing up in a rich oral tradition-telling community, he was exposed at an early age to the power of good storytelling. A Métis from Saskatchewan, he was keenly aware of the influence Native American communities have had on our greater culture and was greatly influenced in his work by the traditional stories of the Great Plains. As an artist and independent filmmaker, he was continually inspired by a wide variety of contemporary media formats and explored these formats within his own work. He was very proud of his Métis ancestry (French/Sioux-Assiniboine). His great-great-grandfather, Isidore Boyer, fought alongside Louis Riel in the 1885 Battle of Batoche rebellion.

Bob was a family man. He adored his wife and children. Bob met his wife Susan Margaret Gray and her 5-year-old son, Jordan Thomas Gray Panarella, in 1993 in Missoula. Margaret and Bob were married on May 10, 1996, followed by the birth of their daughter, Alice Huckleberry Boyer, in 1996. Their son, Isidor Louis Gray Boyer, was born in 2004.

People were drawn to and inspired by Bob. He had friends from all corners of the world and all walks of life. Always a consummate host to his extended family and friends, he planned elaborate dinners for family gatherings and reunions. He loved to cook and was famous for his turkeys, hams, beer can chicken and deviled eggs. With his strong Canadian roots, Bob was a first-class goalie, playing in the men's Glacier Hockey League for several teams up to four nights a week. He was also a lifelong traditional powwow dancer, competing in various powwows throughout North America.

He is preceded in death by his father, Robert Edward Boyer Sr.; an infant son; his father-in-law, Long Standing Bear Chief; and sister-in-law, Nicole Ann Gray. He is survived by his wife, Susan Margaret Boyer; sons, Jordan and Isidor; and daughter Alice, at the family home in Missoula; his mother, Ann of Saskatchewan; brother, Jonah of Whistler, British Columbia; mother-in-law, Susan Gray; brothers-in-law, Alex Gray and Joe Gray (Denise Mason); sisters-in-law, Elizabeth (Mike) Pepion and Celina Gray; niece, Clara Gray; and nephews, Nicholas, William, Samuel and Michael Gray, and Andrew and Jackson Pepion.

Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 21, at the Garden City Funeral Home, 1705 W. Broadway, Missoula. A reception will follow at the funeral home. Bob's ashes will be spread in a private family ceremony at a later date.

Garden City Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Read Robert Boyer's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.