Bobbie Jean Martin's Obituary
Bobbie Jean Martin passed away peacefully, Saturday July 21, 2018 after a long illness resulting from a stroke. She was born as the only child to Dr. Robert Kaskie Lowry and Ethel Irene Britain Lowry in Seymour Texas, on May 31st 1930. She married William Wesley Martin in 1948 and had four children, Christie Jean, Robert Keith, Kyle Wesley and Candace Anne. She had seven grandchildren, Richard K. Martin, Robert K. Martin, Brannon R. Martin, Dylan L. Martin, John W. Potanka, William Thomas Martin and Katherine R. Martin. She attended High School in Seymour Texas and graduated with academic honors. She studied piano from the age of five years. She began playing the organ at age eleven. She became the organist and choir Director of the Presbyterian Church in Seymour at age twelve until she graduated from High School. She attended Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri for a year and studied music and then returned to Seymour and married. She attended North Texas State University and studied music, summer 1947 and spring 1948. She taught piano and organ in Seymour and also in two smaller towns nearby for the ensuing fifteen years. She served as the organist at the First Methodist Church in Seymour for twelve years. In September 1962 she entered Midwestern University in Wichita Falls, Texas, as a sophomore, Major in Organ, Minor in Music Education and Music Theory. The family moved to Wichita Falls in June 1963 while she continued her education and served as organist at Park Place Christian Church from 1963 to 1965. She played organ and directed adult’s and children’s choirs at All Saints Episcopal Church from 1965 – 1966. She played organ and directed adult’s and children’s choirs at St. Stephens Episcopal Church from 1966 -1969. While attending Midwestern University she was on the Dean’s list each semester, was a graduate assistant for the Music department, teaching Organ, Piano, Voice, Music appreciation and assisting in Music Theory classes and earned her Bachelor of Music Summa Cum Laude in 1965 and Master of Arts in 1968. She taught elementary school during her academic years 1968-1969. Teaching vocal music and directed the Junior High and High School chorus in the Electra and Burkburnett Independent Schools. In 1969 the family moved to Dallas Texas. She studied sacred music and theology at Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University until 1971. She played organ directed adult’s, children’s and youth choirs at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Dallas from 1970 to 1972. She worked as an executive secretary at the Englander Company from 1972 to 1975. She divorced in 1973 and never remarried, but her and Wesley remained friends and co-parented their four children. She later played organ and directed choir at All Saints Episcopal Church in Dallas. She entered The University of Texas, Arlington Texas in 1975 and earned her Master of Science in Social Work in 1977. During her academic years at UTA she worked at the West Dallas Community center, West Dallas Public Health Clinic, Dallas County Mental Health and Mental Retardation, Child and Adolescent Services from 1975 to 1976. In 1976 to 1977 she worked at the Dallas Veteran’s Administration Hospital. After this she worked with her daughter, Christie as a Personnel Consultant and later, together opening Happy Destiny, Book and Gifts shop that closed in 2005 when she retired. During this time she spent years studying holistic living and lived a holistic lifestyle. She will be remembered as a loving Mother, Grandmother and as someone who had a beautiful voice and loved music and singing, learning, designing clothing and sewing and was brilliant at all of it. She is survived by her Daughter Christie Jean Martin of Plano Texas, Son Robert Keith Martin and Daughter in Law, Tina Martin of McKinney Texas, Daughter in Law Karen Jean Martin of Wylie Texas, Daughter Candace Anne Potanka and Son in Law Paul John Potanka of Plano Texas, six of her seven grandchildren, Richard K., Robert K., Brannon R., Dylan L., William T. and Katherine R. She is preceded in death by her Parents Robert and Ethel, her ex-husband William Wesley Martin, Her Son Kyle and Grandson John.
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