Barbara Ann Gable

Barbara (Bobbi) Ann Gable, 59, passed away unexpectedly from a heart attack on Saturday, Oct. 20, 2007, while visiting her daughter and grandchildren in Kerrville. She was born Sept. 7, 1948 in North Carolina, the second of seven siblings. She graduated from King High School in Tampa, Fla., and attended Florida Christian College. Having only one friend in the entire state of

Texas didn”t deter her in the least from moving to Austin with her five-year-old daughter Leslie in 1975, driving “Old Blue,” her faithful Ford Pinto, which was packed to overflowing with their worldly goods.
Bobbi quickly became a fan of country-western dance and one night at the Silver Dollar Club in Austin, she danced with a tall, handsome red-headed stranger who was to become her soul mate and the love of her life. On June 6, 1976, Bobbi and little Leslie married Jim Gable. A second daughter, Aaryn, was born in 1977. The young family moved to Lockhart and Jim went to work for Bluebonnet Electric. Their family soon expanded to include Jim”s son, Jimmy Dan. In 1991, a baby girl named Merissa Horton stole Bobbi”s heart and for over 16 years “Aunt Bobbi” and Merissa shared a very special, loving relationship. Whatever else happened, Bobbi and Jim continued to dance through the years, at one time belonging to a dance club which met on Friday nights at the Lockhart Evening Lions Club.
The Gables were members of St. Paul”s United Church of Christ in Lockhart where Bobbi was a member of the choir, taught Sunday School, organized Vacation Bible Schools for several summers, and helped cook and serve the church”s annual turkey dinners. Being blessed with a beautiful singing voice, Bobbi was a member of the Lockhart Community Choir and enjoyed harmonizing with friends and family at social and family gatherings. Jim and Bobbi were President and Secretary-Treasurer of the Lockhart Band Boosters when Aaryn was a student and Bobbi designed and sewed the flags for the first flag team to perform with the LHS Band.
Bobbi and Jim renewed their wedding vows on their 25th Anniversary in 2001, and had many plans for their upcoming retirement adventures. She wanted to “play in the dirt,” her term for digging for diamonds and other precious stones in mines around the country, to which they would travel in the motor home they planned to buy.
Bobbi was employed by T.E.C.S. in Austin for many years. She was also employed by DSM, Luling Hospital, Omni Bank in Lockhart, and by Austin attorney, the late Sam Hall; as well as providing home day care for a period of time. Although plagued by multiple severe health problems for many years which changed her physical appearance and severely limited her ability to get out of the house, Bobbi”s spirit and the strength of her personality continued to shine through. She attended a party in September with a 50″s theme to which she wore a “poodle skirt” that she made for the occasion. She could be a force to be reckoned with, but was always a source of love, support and good advice. She was honest and strong in her convictions and was a close confidante and never ending source of strength for her daughters.
Bobbi loved to play cards and was talented at quilting, sewing and many arts and crafts. Her greatest pleasure over the past 11 years, though, was derived from being with and loving her granddaughters. They loved their Granny with all their hearts and Becca and Rylee always knew they would see her at dance recitals, gymnastics events and softball games, no matter what her health problems might be. She always had a story about Dawn or Eve”s latest accomplishments. Having “the girls” visit always raised her spirits.
Bobbi was preceded in death by her parents and one sister, Patricia Glover.
She is survived by her loving and devoted husband of 31 years, Jim Gable of Lockhart; daughters Leslie Tidwell of Lockhart and Aaryn Rossell (Jeff) of Kerrville; stepson Jimmy Dan Gable (Michelle) of Austin; two sisters Linda Redmond (Neal) and Melody Sullenberger of Tampa; three brothers, Marshall Thompson, Lee Holton and Floyd Holton, of Tampa; four granddaughters, Rebecca and Rylee Tidwell of Lockhart and Dawn and Eve Rossell of Kerrville; step-grandchildren, Logan and Heather Gable of Austin; son-in-law Michael Tidwell of Lockhart; and several nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her dear friend and soul sister, Sandra Horton of Lockhart.
Visitation will be from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 24 at the Gable home in Lockhart. In keeping with Bobbi”s wishes, graveside services will be held at Lockhart Cemetery on Thursday, Oct. 25 at 10 a.m. under the direction of McCurdy Funeral Home of Lockhart.