Bobby Chambless

Bobby Franklin Chambless was born in Tyler, Texas on June 16th, 1932 to his loving parents, Pansy Lee (Moshier) and Henry Clay Chambless. Bob was raised in Tyler, attending Calvary Baptist Church and graduating from Tyler High School in 1949. He was on the football and track team in high school. He had a beautiful singing voice and sang at church and with the high school acapella singing group that traveled and performed throughout East Texas. Throughout his life Bob stayed close to many of his friends from those high school years. He loved attending his High School reunions. He spent many happy moments in his final days looking through his high school yearbooks and telling tales about the friends he’d grown up with. He said he’d never have guessed how valuable those old yearbooks would be to him. It was a joy to watch his face and listen to his happy memories of days gone by. Bob accepted Jesus Christ at the age of 15 and remained a devout Christian his entire life. He was involved with Young Life for many years and remained close to friends he made during his time with the Young Life organization and at the Young Life Camp in Colorado. He attended Gardener -Webb University in North Carolina and played on the football team. He was drafted into the Army in 1954 and it was then that Bob met the love of his life, Yvonne, on a double date 57 years ago. Unfortunately she wasn’t even his date, but Bob quickly rectified the situation by asking her out a few days later. Bob and Yvonne fell in love and married a (scandalous) three months later on Feb 5, 1955. At the time of their marriage, he was serving in the U.S. Army in San Antonio. He later served in Germany where Yvonne soon joined him. It was there they welcomed their only son, Clay, in May 1956. After his Army service, Bob graduated from college and his daughters Dee and Dot were born. Bob worked for the American Cancer Society for 15 years and lived and traveled all over the U.S. Eventually, Tyler beckoned him home where he worked in the oil business for the last 10 years of his career before retiring in 1995. For the past 30 years, Bob lived at his beloved “Triple Ten” property just outside of Tyler with Yvonne at his side. Bob continued to enjoy his very special lifelong friendships with Charles White, Bill Vickery, Buddy Carswell, Kenneth Bennett and Dr. J. Pat Evans to name a few. Bob will be forever remembered for his wonderful sense of humor, his clever story-telling abilities and for being a champion prankster. He spent many a day dreaming up his next prank or regaling us with stories of past pranks. He had a love of the outdoors and enjoyed hunting and fishing throughout his life. He taught each of his five grandsons how to fish at the ponds on the Triple Ten. Bob was the fisherman behind many lucky kids’ ‘first catch’ and nothing made him happier than seeing a child pull in their first fish. Bob spent many contented hours working on his property, riding his 1941 tractor, and feeding his catfish. He loved watching birds and kept a detailed list of the birds he’d seen on his property. He kept a close eye on the squirrels, birds and hummingbirds that visited the feeders he’d rigged up so he could watch them from his breakfast table. Bobby Chambless, 78, passed away peacefully in the early morning of April 26th, 2011. He lived a Christian life and never wavered in his faith. He told us he was not afraid of death and knew exactly where he was going when he passed. His confidence in Christ helped lay the foundation of our own faith and gave us strength during his final days. He is survived by his wife, Yvonne Dorothy Chambless and his children; Clay Chambless and his wife Tina, Dee Chambless and her husband Bill Carver, Dot Walker and her husband Mack. Grandchildren are Chris Chambless, Drew Chambless, Lee Carver, Austin Carver and, last but certainly not least, Gibson Walker (master fisherman). Pallbearers are: Buddy Carswell, Phil Barrett, Chris Chambless, Drew Chambless, Lee Carver, and Austin Carver. Honorary pallbearers are members of Tyler High Class of 1949. The family will receive visitors at Stewart Family Funeral Home on Thursday, April 28th from 6-8 p.m. Services will be held Friday, April 29th at 1:30 p.m. at the funeral home, with Rev. Sam DeVille officiating. Burial will follow at Cathedral in the Pines Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Hospice of East Texas or The American Cancer Society.

Bobby Chambless

June 16, 1932 - April 26, 2011