CASPER — Robert “Bobby” Maher Jr. lay in a silver casket with a black top and large floral arrangement crown Saturday morning as family, friends and local residents came to say goodbye to a boy who loved basketball, the color blue and was loyal to the end.
Now forever 14, Maher’s memorial and funeral was less than two weeks from the day he died defending his girlfriend from a pair of teens harassing her and, according to court testimony, looking for a fight.
Blue heart stickers that read “In Memory of Lil Bobby” sat on a stand outside the sanctuary for mourners to take as a keepsake memory of the aspiring basketball player and youngest son of the Maher family, whose life was taken by a knife blade into his heart April 7.
In a way, that blade has pierced the heart of the Casper community.
Highland Park Community Church on the northeast side of the city provided the setting for the memorial and gathering of more than 200 at 9 a.m. Saturday. The service was led by Casper’s First Christian Church Pastor Bryan Elliott, who shared a family remembrance written to their son and brother.
“Bobby, not a day has passed that we have been able to begin to cope with losing you. We will never forget all the memories we shared,” the family wrote. “Your light was too bright for those cowards to dim. All the greatness of who you were, and all the people who you’ve impacted, (we) will never forget those memories.
“We will hold those memories the closest to our broken hearts in these tough days ahead. This pain is deep. Your mom, your brothers, your dad loved you so very much and miss you so much. It is hard to breathe.”
'Act Of Evil'
Elliott encouraged the more than 200 in the sanctuary and those listening online to understand that time will bring healing as they try to cope with the teen’s loss by actions that are beyond understanding.
“Most of us attending here this morning have a good idea of what happened here that fateful day almost two weeks ago,” Elliott said. “This was an act of evil that was perpetrated against one that is loved. And many of us have rage over what happened and want to make a sense especially of justice that will bring Bobby back. That will not happen. There is nothing that will bring Bobby back to his family and his friends.”
Elliott said it was important not to let the evil of what happened to the teen or “lack of forgiveness consume us.”
“Then the act of evil claims more victims and consumes us all,” he said.
For family members and friends thinking about the “what ifs” related to the teenager’s loss that came in a fight trying to protect his girlfriend at Eastridge Mall, the pastor shared that those thoughts are normal. He said those thoughts are the way the brain and heart try to cope with an “overwhelmingly senseless and difficult situation in our lives and try to make some sense with it and come to terms with it.”
“That takes time,” he said.
Bobby Maher’s brothers and friends served as pallbearers for his casket as the teen’s body was escorted out of the funeral service. (Dale Killingbeck, Cowboy State Daily) 
Blue balloons decorated the funeral service for Robert “Bobby” Maher Jr., 14, who lost his life defending his girlfriend on April 7. (Dale Killingbeck, Cowboy State Daily) 
Blue Heart stickers that read “In Memory Of Lil Bobby” were offered to everyone who attended his funeral service. (Dale Killingbeck, Cowboy State Daily)
‘Spunky Personality’
Maher’s obituary was read by Elliott, and it outlined Maher’s “spunky personality and thirst for adventure” as well as his passion for basketball.
“His tenacious nature, skill and great support from his family helped push Bobby to be a star player and a joy to watch on the court,” Elliott read. “He found joy in spending time with his friends and family, sharing laughs and taking in all life had to offer.”
The pastor later shared that that “Bobby had courage in spades” and asked those remaining to consider how “we can live courageously.” He challenged everyone to counter darkness with light, sadness with joy, and doubt with faith.
“It is only through love that we feel connected to anything,” he said. “For it is in giving that we receive, when we give of ourselves, when we open doors and allow the light of love to shine in, that is where Bobby is seen. Bobby bathed in that illumination of blue light love.”
As part of the ceremony, the family shared a video with photos of the 14-year-old’s life that included a fifth-grade photo in uniform on a football team, as a young boy with a fishing pole, photos of him with arms around his parents, and much more. The song “Hero” accompanied the video.
‘Maher 41’
Maher’s casket was flanked on the left by a huge blue balloon arrangement that included basketballs. Two different enlarged photos of him, one as a younger boy and one wearing a big hat were on the stage with other flowers and balloon arrangements.
At the conclusion of the service, Maher’s three brothers and a handful of friends served as pallbearers of the casket wearing hooded blue sweatshirts that read “Maher 41.” They slowly walked alongside the casket as it was wheeled out of the sanctuary followed by the Maher family.
Maher was born Aug. 25, 2009. He is survived by his mother Mary (Powers) Maher; father Robert Maher Sr.; brothers Charles, Patrick and Raiden Maher; and extended Maher family who filled four rows in the church’s large auditorium.
His burial was in Highland Park Cemetery in Casper.
Two 15-year-old Casper-area boys face murder charges as adults for the stabbing death of Maher. They were bound over to Natrona County District Court on Thursday.
Contact Dale Killingbeck at dale@cowboystatedaily.com
Dale Killingbeck can be reached at dale@cowboystatedaily.com.
