Tura Stephens Hobbs

Born in East Texas, she loved dogwood trees and pine trees, people, and simple pleasures like fried cornbread and blackeyed peas. Because her father built houses for oil companies, Tura grew up in small oil towns from the piney woods to the plains—Center, Lumberton, Saratoga, Humble, Eddy, Desdemona, Breckenridge, Brownwood. After graduating from Mary Hardin Baylor College, she became a teacher in a one-room schoolhouse in Merrilltown, TX.

She was one of the best of her generation, a true Texas lady -- strong, yet incomparably genteel in all her ways. She loved deeply all those who came her way, giving of herself to many who were needy through her work at Iglesia Bautista in East Austin at a time when few of Austin's citizens paid attention to the poor on the east side of town.

Married for 58 years to former postmaster Carl Hobbs, together they raised 3 daughters, Terry Heller of Austin, Christy Fonvielle of Fort Worth, and Patsy Harelik of Crossplains, and delighted in their four grandchildren and one great-grandchild. They were lifelong members of First Baptist Church.

She fully lived her 102 years, her life marked by uncommon graciousness, kindness, humor and a deep faith. Her legacy to all her family and friends is the example of a life of joy and peace, and the love she invested in each and every one of them.

The family gives grateful thanks to Tura's attentive and loving caregivers Ruth, Marisol, Carole, and Sherri. A memorial service will be held Monday, July 29, at 2:00 p.m. in the sanctuary of First Baptist Church in Austin.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made for children's vision screening equipment through the Austin Downtown Founder Lions Club, P.O. Box 42181, Austin, TX 78704.