A true Renaissance man, Robert Hugh Laney, died at Elizabeth House, November 3, 2025.
Born on October 28, 1941, in Lexington, Kentucky, he lived most of his life in Western North Carolina.
Robert possessed many talents and even more interests. He authored several self-help books and many articles for Popular Woodworking magazine. An amazing woodworker of furniture, he made all the worktables and racks at his daughter’s business. He even made dulcimers and guitars.
Music was an important part of his life. He was a singer and as a musician he played the guitar he made. When arthritis crippled his hands. Robert would tape a pick to his right hand and continued playing. He enjoyed music of all kinds, but his favorites were blues, old rock, folk and classical.
If an object had wheels, Robert wanted to learn about it and became an expert with cars, bicycles, motorcycles, trains and even his walker.
A history buff, Robert read, listened and watched almost anything about history. He could speak incessantly on a broad range of subjects, a huge fan of PBS radio.
Exercise was an important part of his life, running, lifting weights, biking and even though his body slowed after a severe stroke 20 years ago, he continued to maintain his strength as much as his body allowed. There was a stationary bike in his living room.
Robert had a sweet social life. He volunteered many years at Hospice after his wife Elaine died there. He enjoyed the Mountain Aging Partners, formerly Council on Aging, congregate dining, made many friends there and played music for his friends at lunch monthly.
An animal lover, in recent years Robert missed his cat, B.B. He fed birds and enjoyed the white squirrels in his yard.
Robert was preceded in death by his mother Azilee Laney; and his wife of 39 years Elaine Laney.
Survivors are his daughter Melissa Laney Maurer; grandchildren Elliott and Meghan Maurer, Julia and Cameron Anderson; great-grandchildren Tinsley and Fletcher Anderson; sister-in- law Nancy Irving; and nephew Rob Kievit.
As proof of his kindness and caring ways, Robert’s pacemaker will be donated to a K9 patient.
A celebration of the life of Robert Laney will be at 3 p.m. on Saturday, November 15, 2025, at First Methodist Church, Roy Johnson Room.
Jackson Funeral Service is honored to serve the Laney family.