The Reverend Robert I. "Father Bob" Maurais, retired Rector Emeritus of St. Edward's Episcopal Church in Mount Dora, Florida, died peacefully on July 6, 2019, just after celebrating his 88th birthday. He was born July 5, 1931 in Davenport, Iowa, and was raised and educated in Rock Island, Illinois. He attended Northwestern University before being called into active duty in the Marine Corps in 1950. He served as a military police officer on the staff of the Commanding General, First Marine Division, in Korea. He married Lois Erickson in 1953 and they were happily married for 66 years. Following his graduation from Northwestern in 1955 he attended Seabury-Western Theological Seminary and was ordained into the Episcopal Church following his graduation in 1958.He served parishes in Wheaton, Illinois and Tampa, Florida, helped found the Berkeley Preparatory School in Tampa, and was founding Headmaster of the Canterbury School of Florida in St. Petersburg. In 1972 he became senior assistant at the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer in Sarasota and Rector of St. Edward's Episcopal Church in Mount Dora, Florida in 1978. After retiring in 1996, he assisted at St. James Episcopal Church in Leesburg, Florida, and was called back to St. Edward's as Interim Priest-in-Charge in 2007. He was elected Rector Emeritus in October 2009 after completing 20 years of faithful service to his Lord. He was predeceased by his parents, Robert W. Maurais and Plooma Shires Maurais, and his two brothers. He is survived by his wife Lois, his sister Mary Ellen Koeller of Fairbanks, Alaska, and his children, Mark (Candy), Paul, and John Maurais, daughter Holly Long (Bill) of Apopka. He has three granddaughters, Lucidahlia Mazzella, Hannah Long, and Lauren Cantrell. Funeral services will be held at St. Edward's Episcopal Church in Mt. Dora on July 20th, 2019 at 2 PM. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Edward's Endowment Fund, Toys for Tots, or to the Disabled American Veterans. Allen Harden J Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.