Robert Hyland, Jr, age 93, passed away peacefully on December 26th, 2025 at his Portland home.

Bob’s (or “Booby” as he was affectionately called) love for all things sports was surpassed only by the love he had for his family including his late wife, Pat, his four children, eight grandchildren, and two great grandchildren. Oh, and his love for beer.

He never missed an opportunity to watch his Oregon Ducks, LA Dodgers, or just about any sport or team he could set eyes on. One of the great joys of his life was coaching his three athletic sons in Little League baseball.

He instilled dedication, hard work, passion, and a sense of humor in his children. Ever the philosopher, Bob could wax poetic on almost any topic known to man.

 Bob was born in rural Montana where he lived (and was even taught in first grade by his grandmother in a one-room schoolhouse) until the age of ten, at which time the family moved to Portland, Oregon.

He was a standout at Benson High School and decades later started an alumni association which helped to save the institution from closure. Majoring in psychology, Bob graduated from the University of Oregon and took those human behavior skills right over to Allstate insurance as an underwriter in southern California.

Given the opportunity to start up Manhattan General Insurance agency at the ripe age of 34, Bob moved the family back to Oregon where he remained despite pleas to Pat that they should move South to a sunnier climate. Days of endless rain would lead Bob to quip, “it’s another lovely Oregon day”! 

Bob served as President of the local Kiwanis club and as a die-hard Democrat, campaigned for President Bill Clinton. 

Bob loved to regale anyone who would listen to his many robust stories including his time (or penance, as he would tell you) in Gambell, Alaska in the Bering Sea (“38 nautical miles from Siberia!” ) serving in the Korean War.

Bob loved an audience—from the employees at Albertson’s grocery store that he got to know on a first-name basis, to the many neighbors he engaged in conversation, to all the friends of his children who loved Bob’s quirky and gregarious nature. Pat was always by his side, nodding and smiling at the wonderful spectacle that was Bob Hyland through 60 years of marriage.

In the last couple years of his life, Bob’s beloved grandson, Tanner, lived with and cared for his grandpa, taking care of his every need. 

Bob’s parting words would be: “As the coyote laughs with the cactus, so shall the lips of the chicken forever be puckered.” If you knew Bob, you know… 

Bob is survived by three of his four siblings (Diane, JoAn, and Mike), and the late Rosalie Hyland; his sons Kevin (Deanna), Kerby (Doris), Brett (Rhonda), and his daughter Sheila (Andy); grandchildren Stephen, Jamie, Patrick, Tanner, Jackie, Alex, Emily, Jake; and great grandchildren, Braydon and Ryder.

A private celebration of life is planned for family.

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