A life well loved, is a life well lived. Bobbie was a headstrong caretaker, whose heart carried endless love from her early life to her final days. Her kindness and generosity were captured through her daily actions when it came to anyone she would meet. She was invested in taking care of her family, community and church by staying connected and compassionate to all those around her. She was proud of her family history and heritage, her Scottish ancestry and tying her family to the Daughters of the American Revolution. Her greatest passions in her life were teaching, motherhood and God. And these passions paved her life from early childhood, through adulthood and onward.
God delivered Bobbie into her parents hands, April 24, 1930 in Conser Oklahoma. She came into the world, Bobbie Ellen Haynes to Oather and Ocie Haynes. Bobbie lived in a multigenerational home, living close with her Grandmother. She grew up with a family that hunted and farmed their own food, surrounded by a close network of family and friends in a small country community, in the foothills of eastern Oklahoma. The small community church was important to her family growing up. When she was 8 years old, during a revival at her church, Bobbie felt a calling and accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. She was later baptized in the Poteau River.
Bobbie was taught through grade school in a one room schoolhouse. Even as a young girl, Bobbie loved school and teaching. As a child she would set up dolls and toys and play teacher with them. When Bobbie was 13, her mother gave birth to a younger brother, Marion, who Bobbie would help take care of and teach. Her gentle and patient love for her brother nurtured the maternal nature Bobbie was blessed with even at an early age. Once in High School, Bobbie met Virgil McClain while riding the bus to and from school. They became friends and High School sweet-hearts but after graduating parted ways amicably.
Services for Mrs. McClain are pending this time. Arrangements are under the direction of Dowden-Roberts Funeral Home of Heavener, Oklahoma.
Bobbies parents encouraged her to pursue a career teaching in college but they didnt have very much money, so Bobbie worked in a flower shop in Poteau to support herself through college. After junior college, she was accepted into the University of Oklahoma and worked to earn her bachelor's degree in Education. She got her first teaching job in Wilburton, OK. After completing her degree, she decided to work to get her Masters in Education as well. While home on spring break, Bobbie ran into Virgil, who was on leave from his service in the Air Force. They went out on a date and a week later they were engaged. Bobbie took to finishing her Masters, planning her wedding and getting married all by the end of the summer in 1955.
The newlyweds moved out to Lake Charles, Louisiana. Bobbie taught elementary school while Virgil completed his last year in the Air Force. Once Virgil got his GI Bill, they went back to Stillwater, OK, where he also worked to complete his Masters. After the birth of their daughters Diana and Pamela, for about 6 years, Bobbie took a break from teaching and enjoyed motherhood. At this time, Virgil got a job with the Census Bureau and the young family had to move several more times around the country for Virgils job before landing in Suitland, Maryland where he took a corporate job. After living in Maryland for a few years, Bobbie decided to return to work teaching. The family lived in Maryland around 10 years. Bobbie and Virgil were pillars in their community church, Hillcrest Baptist. Bobbie taught Sunday School every Sunday and Virgil worked as a treasurer.
In 1973, the family decided to move to Springfield, Virginia. The family joined Westwood Baptist Church shortly after and became active members with their daughters and continuing generations. Virgil and Bobbie both served as deacons for years, she taught at VBS and went on Senior trips. Both Diana and Pamela were active members of the church as youth and as young adults, both were married at Westwood Baptist Church. In 1986, Bobbie was delighted when she became a Grandmother.
Bobbies importance for Education passed onto her children, Diana and Pamela also followed in their mother's footsteps, going to college for their Masters in Education and both of them becoming teachers like their mother. Bobbie eventually retired from teaching public education in Maryland after 30 years, but given her passion for Education, she began teaching ESL for over 10 years and still continued VBS for many more years at her church. In 2000, the University of Oklahoma reached out to Bobbie and wanted to honor her as one of their distinguished alumni.
For many, Bobbies heart and soul was with her family. From keeping in touch with far off relatives back in Oklahoma and across the country to holding gatherings for local family members on holidays and birthdays, Bobbie was a foundation for her loved ones. Her house was always a home for everyone. She was always an ear to listen and a shoulder to lean on if anyone needed her. Her heart and home was the epicenter for family gatherings, for her girls, their families and her 5 grandchildren throughout the years. In more recent years, Bobbie welcomed with open arms her first of many great grandbabies into the world. She continued in her legacy to teach, love and bless every one of them with all the compassion and earnestness in her heart.
Graveside Service
Heavener Memorial Park
Tuesday, January 21, 2025
2:00 PM
Heavener, Oklahoma