Individual Details

Death

At 7:30 A.M. on April 14, 2015, Bobbie Lee Terrell passed away at her home in Bastrop, Texas, with her daughter holding her hand. Bobbie was 93 years young. Bobbie was born in Kirkland, Texas, to Maggie Elizabeth Furr Felts and James Millard Felts. She was their only child and grew up much loved. Her parents owned farm and ranch land as well as a hardware store in nearby Childress. She said that she never heard her parents argue; she heard them talk long into the night during the depression, but she never observed a family argument. Bobbie graduated from Kirkland High School where she was the district champ in tennis and went on to graduate from both Texas Tech University and West Texas State University. From childhood, she was a goal setter. She met Garland Terrell in high school, and they married upon his graduation from Howard Payne. While Bobbie was a career educator, she also was known to tell a story about putting black pepper in a rose which was given to one of her least favorite elementary school teachers. Her mother also helped her circumvent school dress code rules by cutting a section out of her long socks so they could be extended only to her knee. Bobbie graduated with a degree in journalism and dreamed of working for a magazine in New York City. On the urging of her mother, she also earned a teaching certificate which was useful as she taught in San Angelo while her husband was stationed there during World War II. She went on to become a career educator, earned a master’s degree in education with a minor in art and taught first, fourth, and sixth grades. When both Bobbie and Garland Terrell retired from education, they became antique dealers. Bobbie had an artist’s eye and became an expert in many areas of antiques, especially antique glassware. They moved to Bastrop in the 1970’s because they loved the small town with its plethora of historic homes. Bobbie did the research on many homes in Bastrop which earned their placement on the national registry of historic homes. She also shared her knowledge of antiques with the Bastrop County Historical Society Museum as well as donating items to the museum. After her husband’s death, Bobbie became more active in the Bastrop Community. She was a member of the park’s board and wanted Fisherman’s Park to become a site that welcomed the community and families. She was instrumental in the building of the river walk. Bobbie was also a founding member of the Bastrop Senior Center and established the quilter’s group at the center. She began her career in art in pastels and water color, but she found the most artistic pleasure in quilting. A master quilter, she taught classes and chose the design and fabric for many of the quilts produced by the quilters at the center. She enjoyed trips organized by the center, and her picture can be seen today on the center’s home page. One of her favorite quotes was “Cast your bread upon the water.” She lived that thought as throughout her life she did kindnesses for others, especially her many students, without expecting anything in return. 
Among her written goals for her life, found in her handwriting on yellowed onion skin paper, are these: 
What do I want to do? 
To be independent, to travel, and to be creative 
What do I want to be? 
To be respected and liked in my community and to be loved by my family 
What do I want to have? 
A comfortable home, friends, love of my family, and a feeling of worth to my community 
What do I want to give? 
Help my children and share skills with others 
She is survived by her children Terry Terrell Hamm (Jim, deceased) and Clay Terrell (Annie), both of Bastrop; her grandchildren, Blake Hamm (Holly) of Magnolia, Erin Hamm Milton (Cameron) of Pearland, and Travis Terrell Ramos, a student at the Colorado School of Mines; and her great grandchildren Jakob Hamm and Dillon Milton. Bobbie always wanted a service at the park. A memorial service will be held at 10;15 a.m., Saturday, April 18, at the gazebo at Neighbor’s Restaurant in Bastrop where friends and family can overlook the river walk. She accomplished her goals. In lieu of flowers, donations may be given to the Bastrop Historical Society, the Bastrop Parks Department in care of the City of Bastrop, or to a scholarship of your choice.