Bobbie Jo Mathes

Bobbie Jo Mathes (91 years old) passed away peacefully on Sunday, June 16, 2024, at Avalon Memory Care, Atascocita, Texas, surrounded by her loving family. Bobbie was born in Blevins, Arkansas, on December 21st, 1932, and was the daughter of Eligah Tobias Smith and Mamie Josephine Wagner Smith. She graduated from Blevins High School in Blevins, Arkansas, where she played on the school basketball team. Bobbie had 5 siblings: sisters—Adene and Olice; and brothers—Barton, Charles, and Lindon, along with twin brothers (Henry and Giles) who did not live past birth. During childhood and early adulthood, Bobbie’s cousins were her closest friends.

Bobbie moved to Houston, Texas, shortly after graduating from high school and worked for several different businesses including Hillshire Furniture and Bell Telephone. It was in Houston that she met Randel “Curly” Royce Chrisman, and they were married on October 3, 1952, at Heights First Baptist Church in Houston, Texas. Through the following years, she gave birth to five daughters: Barbara Diane, Sharon May, Connie Lynn, Randa Kay, and Kimberly Jo.

Bobbie was a hard-working mother who took care of her family. She used her time and creativity in making all of her daughters’ clothes, along with her own and her husband’s suits. Later, she would take in sewing projects for family and friends to supplement the family income. All of this while caring for their disabled daughter, Kim, who had spina bifida, along with another young child who also had spina bifida. After Kim succumbed to the disease, Bobbie went to work for the City of Houston and continued employment there until retirement at the age of 57 years old. At that time, she and Randel loved to go camping and fishing, and spending time with family and friends.

Besides spending time with her family and church friends, Bobbie had a passion for reading and doing word search puzzles. She thoroughly enjoyed watching The Gaither’s on Saturday evenings followed by watching Dr. Charles Stanley on television. She loved her home and taking care of her little dog, Lucy.

Bobbie was preceded in death by her parents, Eligah and Mamie Smith; her siblings—Adene Brooks, Olice Rhodes, Barton Smith, Charles Smith, and twin brothers (Henry and Giles); her husband of 40 years, Randel Royce Chrisman; her daughters, Randa Kay Chrisman and Kimberly Jo Chrisman; her second husband of 19 months, Claude Mathes; and her son-in-law, Royce Belt.

Bobbie is survived by her daughters, Barbara Belt, Sharon Johnson, and Connie Pratt; son-in-laws, William Johnson and Fred Pratt; her brother, Lindon Smith; seven grandchildren; thirteen great grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; and great nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life Memorial Service followed by a graveside gathering for Bobbie will be held at Earthman Resthaven Funeral Home and Cemetery, 13102 North Fwy, Houston, Texas, 77060, on Tuesday, June 25th, at 10 a.m. Family visitation will be held one hour before the service in the Earthman Resthaven Chapel at 9:00 a.m. A dinner reception will be held after burial in the Atrium of the Woodlands First Baptist Church, 11801 Grogans Mill Road, The Woodlands, Texas, 77380. Everyone is welcome to attend the memorial service, graveside, and reception.

If you knew Bobbie, you knew she was extremely generous. She was kind and funny and touched so many lives with her generosity. She is in our hearts and will be remembered always!!

The following are charities that Bobbie supported if you like to send a donation in lieu of flowers:

The Children’s Foundation

Casa Hogar Los Angelitos

PO Box 688, Fulshear, TX, USA 77441 https://tcfcares.org/

Youth Reach Houston

P.O. Box 9631, Houston, TX 77213 http://www.youth-reach.org/

St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital https://www.stjude.org/

The family would like to express their heartfelt “Thank You” to

Avalon Memory Care and Bayou City Hospice for taking such good care of our Granny.