Roberta "Bobbie" Lee Barnes

She was born to Roy and Opal Powell on Nov. 22, 1932 in Sturgeon, Mo. Bobbie was raised and grew up on the family farm there.

She attended Sturgeon Public Schools. She played on the high school basketball team. It was in school where she met James T. Barnes (Tommy) the one and only love of her life. They married on Jan. 14, 1951 in Chillicothe, Mo., where they attended business school together.

Shortly afterward they moved to Columbia, Mo., where they worked and raised their two children, James (Jim) T. Barnes Jr. and Michael (Mike ) R. Barnes.

Bobbie started at the data processing center at the University of Missouri as a keypunch operator. She spent her entire career there, retiring as the department director. Her employees all said they never had a better boss who was more kind and caring.

She also helped in restaurants they owned - Dairy Queens and the Ranch House in Columbia.

Her beloved husband Tom died in 1994 after a long battle with cancer. He was 61.

A year later she moved to Nampa, Idaho to be near her oldest son and his family. While in Nampa she was not only a great grandmother but a valued community volunteer. She worked with the United Way and then spent most of her volunteer time with the Nampa Chamber of Commerce. She met so many dear and lasting friends who greatly appreciated her.

Bobbie’s purpose in life was to serve and help others. It was her essence. It’s what she taught her children.

She moved to Grapevine in 2015 to be close to her son Mike and his family. She continued her volunteer work at the elementary school in her neighborhood and attended Whites Chapel United Methodist bible studies and church services.

Bobbie was an avid sports fan. She loved everything Mizzou, especially football and basketball. She was a great Kansas City Chiefs fan, and she enjoyed watching them with her sons. She traveled to Arrowhead Stadium, Seattle and Oakland to root them on.

She is survived by her two sons and their wives (who both called her a saint), Jim and wife Susan from St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Mike and wife Darla from Southlake, Texas.

She is also survived by 8 grandchildren and their spouses - Jessica Hudson (Luke), Justin Barnes (Ashley), Brooke Hays (Greg), Blake Barnes (Morgan) and four she inherited from Jim’s marriage to Susan: Kelsey Ballenger (John), Cheyanne Delo (Matt) Storm Wallen (RJ) and Grace Sutherland (Sam).

She also had 10 great grandchildren.

Friends and family may gather from 1:30pm – 3:00pm, Saturday, March 28, 2026, at Memorial funeral Home, 1217 Business Loop 70 West Columbia, MO. At 3:00pm, there will be a committal service In Memorial Park Cemetery and her cremains will be entombed with her beloved husband Tom.

She was the best with a heart and soul of gold.

Condolences and fond memories may be shared at www.memorialfuneralhomeandcemetery.com