Roberta "Bobbie" Roberts

ROBERTS, ROBERTA LYNN, 65, East Lansing. Bobbie Roberts died peacefully Sunday, June 4, at Sparrow Hospital with her husband Doug Roberts by her side after a nearly two-year determined and brave fight against pancreatic cancer.

Charming, gracious, outgoing, open, friendly, conscientious and courageous, Bobbie adored her family and friends and was equally loved by them. She was born April 2, 1952, in Camp Breckinridge, Kentucky, to Robert and Marjorie Neubacher and was raised in the Detroit area.

She graduated from Waterford Kettering High School in 1970 and attended Michigan State University where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in communications. She later earned a master’s degree in Public Administration from Western Michigan University.

An accomplished photographer, she began her career in public service as a photographer for the Michigan House Republican Caucus and also worked as a public relations official for the caucus. From 1987 to 1992, Bobbie was with the Michigan Grocers Association.

She returned to public service in 1992 to work for the Department of Treasury, where she was spokesperson for the department and where she would meet her future husband, State Treasurer Douglas B. Roberts. She was his biggest supporter during the last years of his state service and throughout his work with Michigan State University as Director of MSU’s Institute for Public Policy and Social Research.

When she retired from the state she enjoyed travel of all kinds. She particularly loved Treasure Island, Florida, and seeking out various spots throughout Europe. She became an expert at documenting her travels, time spent with family and her love of gardening in photo books she created.

She grew interested in quilting and developed a passion for it, filling her home with color and craft. She completed 60 quilts, and made sure she had crafted one for each of her seven grandchildren, many with the green and white colors of her beloved MSU. During her final days, her family kept her comfortable with some of the quilts she had created.

Her friends and family will especially remember Bobbie for the joy she had and spread in throwing open her house and acting as hostess for dinners, parties and gatherings many, many times, even during times of her illness. She took this love of hospitality out of the house by volunteering for Meals on Wheels for many years. She loved helping out in the community.

Bobbie is survived by her husband, Doug; her sons Ryan (Jaime) and Patrick (Jamie) McKennon and Doug (Rebecca) and John (Kerry) Roberts; her grandchildren, Raegan and Christopher McKennon, Alex and Ben McKennon, Emory and Mitchell Roberts, Henry Roberts; her mother, Marjorie Neubacher; her siblings, Debbie (Bob) Krieg, Mark (Barb) Neubacher, Greta (Jim) Stuef and many loving nephews and nieces. She was preceded in death by her father, Robert Neubacher, and her first husband, Glenn McKennon.

Visitation will be from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Friday, June 9, at the Gorsline-Runciman Funeral Homes, 1730 East Grand River Avenue, East Lansing.

Visitation will also be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, June 10, at the University Club of Michigan State University, 3435 Forest Road, Lansing. Memorial service will take place, beginning at 11 a.m., Saturday, June 10, at the University Club, with a reception to follow.

Donations can be made in Bobbie’s memory to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network and to Meals on Wheels through the Tri-County Office on Aging.

Arrangements under the direction of Gorsline Runciman Funeral Home, East Lansing, MI.