Bobbie Jean Bolin Howard was born to Arthur & Lola Bolin in Crossville, TN on January 8th, 1939 and she left this life surrounded at home by loved ones on August 16th, 2023. As the last of her parents’ children remaining, she was preceded in death by her sisters Agnes, Lucille, and Faye; as well as her brothers Cecil, Everett, J.V., and Raymond. Bobbie was the apple of her mothers’ eye and the bane of existence to all her older brothers and sisters. She had great fun being sent along as a chaperone on dates with her older sisters where she would embarrass them as much as possible and run off as many suitors as she could. The only one to impress her was her brother-in-law Frank Pierce; but that’s because he bribed her with $2, a candy bar, and a vinyl record. Her brothers didn’t have it any easier since some of her favorite things to do were tossing wasps nests at them and blaming them for any pies and cakes that she stole out of the kitchen. Despite all this, they still spoiled her.
Bobbie left home at 14 to work as a live in Nanny and Housekeeper, and did this until marrying H.B. Howard and moving to Lynchburg, TN. She was a stay at home mom to her children, only moving on to other things as they got older. In the time since, she has worked at the Lynchburg Sewing Factory, Genesco’s, Pepper Patch, and then retired from Walmart after 20 years. She loved having so many sons, even though that meant the place was always overflowing with car parts. She loved having daughters and they made up for all the car parts. Bobbie was so much more than just a mom to Hanley, Randy, Harlon, Hollis, Haskell, Lola, Homer, & Laura. She was a Grandma, Great Grandma, and Great Great Grandma. Her kids and grandkids were her greatest and most loved possessions. It turns out that she also loved being a mom to Best Friends, a Band kids, a Girl Scout mom, and even just a mom to any kids left unattended in her general vicinity. She loved to laugh, pull pranks, drive fast, and lecture cops. Bobbie was a sturdy shoulder to lean on for many; and a giver of wonderful advice whether you asked for it or not. If the advice was bad it was probably just because you didn’t do it exactly how she said you should.
The only negative qualities that Bobbie can be remembered for were complaining if you didn’t get the right kind of birdfeed for her feeders and being a shameless plant thief. Regretfully, she would steal plant cuttings and trimmings right out of front yards or on the sides of roads. On the positive side of things; she would tell people where she got them so at least full credit was given to the original owners. She will live on in our memories of her wonderful laugh and bright smile and mischievous attitude. We will miss her whistling happy tunes and her tight hugs. We will simply always miss having Ma around.
The family would like to thank the Suncrest Home Health for their care. We would also like to deeply thank Compassus Hospice Care for all they’ve done for Mom. At this time the Hazel Green Funeral Home of Hazel Green, AL is serving the family privately over the weekend.
Hazel Green Funeral Home is honored to serve the family.
