Coeur d'Alene Press - The Daily Bee Coeur d'Alene, Kootenai County, Idaho <> Robert Emory Carroll, 72 Robert (Bob) Emory Carroll, Coeur d'Alene, was called home to be with his Lord and Savior on Nov. 14, 2004, after a lengthy and noble battle with congestive heart failure. Temporarily left behind are his wife, Jean Carroll, and son, Craig Carroll, both of Coeur d'Alene, and daughter Cheryl Carroll, Moscow. Bob also leaves his brother Richard E. Carroll and wife Mary; nephew Daniel Carroll, wife Cindy, and their daughters Katelyn and Kaycey; nephew Patrick Carroll and son Colt. Bob will also be fondly remembered by many dear friends and relatives all across the nation. Preceding him in death were his parents, Robert H. and Olive (Kelly) Carroll, formerly of Shelby, Mont. Bob was born in Conrad, Mont., on May 19, 1932, and raised in Shelby. His characteristic curiosity, adventurousness and independence were honed in a HiLine boyhood spent outdoors and in the pages of good books. He later worked beside his father in the gas fields while completing high school. After graduation, he joined the Air Force, serving as Radar Surveillance Crew Chief on the DEW line at Resolution Island, during the Korean War. Bob attended Carroll College in Helena, Mont., and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology before graduating from Montana State University (MSU) with a bachelor in general science. After graduate studies emphasizing English, theatre arts, film and radio/TV, he received a master's science degree in applied sciences from MSU in 1959. Bob was active in the early development of broadcasting in Montana, with positions at the Bozeman and Butte television stations in the late '50s and as program and operations director at KBLL-TV in Helena in the early '60s. He produced and directed thousands of hours of live television, including the first broadcasts of the Montana legislative sessions, and provided news features for all three national networks, as well as the CBC and BBC. In the mid-60s, Bob brought his filmmaking and writing skills to his passionate love of the outdoors when he became the film, television, and radio production manager for the Montana Fish and Game Department. He wrote, filmed and edited scores of short and feature films about the land, water and the wildlife he cherished. Three of Bob's feature films received the Top Four Conservation Films of the Year Award from the Outdoor Writers of America. He also wrote many news reports, feature articles and photo essays for the department's magazine, Montana Outdoors. In the early 70s, Bob and a partner opened ECON Inc., the first environmental consulting firm in Montana. For 22 years, first as vice president and later as president, sole owner and senior consultant, Bob designed, oversaw and reported on more than 450 scientific studies in an 11-state area for various federal, state and private industry clients. Those studies were designed to assure that decisions about the protection and development of Montana's natural resources were based on sound scientific data and full compliance with the law. Bob was a certified interpreter of aerial photography and a member of the American Society of Photogrametry. He was also a member of the Photographic Society of America and New York Academy of Sciences. During that period of his career, Bob was also appointed by the Governor to a seat on the Montana Coal Board, where he served four years. Following his retirement in 1994, Bob lent his energies to various types of public service. As staff liaison officer in the Coast Guard Auxiliary's Helena Flotilla, he used his educational and public relations skills to promote boating and boating safety throughout the state and region. Under his leadership as Flotilla Commander, the Helena chapter won national honor as Flotilla of the Year in 1999. An avid outdoorsman, Bob enjoyed wilderness treks, camping, hunting, canoeing and nature photography throughout his life. He hiked Montana's forests, mountains and plains at every opportunity, and spent many happy hours on the water, particularly the Missouri River, which he canoed 13 times. Bob mentored many young outdoorsmen, sharing his command of marksmanship, for which he won many medals; handloading; nature photography; boating; and his knowledge of the hunt. He wrote a number of articles on shooting, hunting, handloading, wildlife and conservation for national magazines such as The American Rifleman and Field and Stream. Bob loved books of every sort and was extremely well-read. His exceptional ability to retain and assimilate what he read made him a great resource and a stimulating conversationalist. He was also a superb writer, with many awards and honors for both technical and creative writing. Bob married his wife, Jean, in 1961, adopting her children Craig and Cheryl as his own. He was unceasingly devoted to his family's well-being, providing many adventures, a deep sense of security, stimulation and support for their endeavors, and most precious of all, the companionship of his fine mind and steadfast heart. To his family and all others who knew him, he was a gentle man and a gentleman, and he will be sorely missed. At Bob's request, there will be no funeral or memorial service. Yates Funeral Home, Coeur d'Alene Chapel, is in charge of arrangements.