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Bobbie Jolly, 88, of LaGrange passed away on July 9, 2020, following a brief illness. Mrs. Jolly was born in Grand Island, Nebraska, on Nov. 9, 1931, to the late Andrew and Ethel (Kent) Anderson. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her sister Gladys Mueller and brothers Louis Anderson, Marion Anderson and Donald Anderson. She is survived by her loving husband of 67 years, Donald Jolly; her daughter Debbie (Tom) Mills and sons Ricky and Kevin, all of LaGrange, and her brother Harry Anderson of Dallas, Texas.  She is also survived by her grandchildren Whitney (Luke) Hunter, Hilary (Chris) Gilbert, Harrison (Stephanie) Mills, Taylor Jolly, Andi Jolly and Alyssa Jolly; as well as her five great-grandchildren and her nieces and nephews.

Born during the Great Depression and the second oldest of six, times were lean during her early years. Her parents could not afford to raise all their kids, so Bobbie and some of the older siblings were sent to a children’s home for a portion of their school years. 

During her high school years, she lived with a family and helped take care of their kids. Despite the hard times of her youth, she never complained and often told stories of how hard her dad worked, how he did things for his kids, and how kind and gentle he was.

In her early years after high school, Bobbie worked as a telephone operator for the Northwestern Bell Telephone Company in Omaha. Bobbie met Don in 1950 while he was stationed at Offutt Airforce Base near Omaha, and they were married in Bainbridge, Georgia in 1952, while Don was attending school at Florida State University.  Before settling in LaGrange in 1961, Bobbie and Don lived in several cities including Biloxi, Mississippi; Tallahassee, Florida; Jackson, Mississippi; Steelville, Missouri; Champaign, Illinois and Denver, Colorado. After Bobbie’s time as a homemaker and raising kids, she helped to start and was the director for the pre-school kindergarten program at First United Methodist Church in LaGrange in the early 1970s. In her 40s she started college and earned her Bachelor of Science in education and master of education, which she completed in 1980. She taught in the public school system at Unity Elementary and Hollis Hand Elementary until she retired in 1994, to take care of her grandkids.

Bobbie loved God and her family. She was an active member of First United Methodist Church, taught Sunday School and vacation bible school for many years, and served on several committees. Bobbie thoroughly enjoyed decorating her home for all holidays, planning family get-togethers, cooking, gardening, scrap booking, bird watching, and taking care of her pets.  

Her strength and spirit will be dearly missed by her family. Funeral services will be private at a later date. In lieu of flowers please make donations to your favorite charity in her honor. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.higginslagrangechapel.com  Higgins Funeral Home at Hunter Allen Myhand, 506 Hill Street, LaGrange, (706) 884-5626.