Bobbie Nell Templeton's Obituary
Bobbie Nell Templeton, age 86, of Fayetteville, passed away Tuesday, November 3, 2020. She was born May 8, 1934 in McComb, Mississippi, the daughter of Benjamin and Ruby Caraway Moore.
She was preceded in death by her husband, George Earl Templeton, Jr., and two brothers, Benny Moore and Barney Moore.
She was a daughter, a sister, a scientist, a wife, a mom, a grandmom, a friend, and a volunteer. She was a woman of faith who spent her life making everyone else’s life better.
Bobbie Nell is survived by a daughter, Jan Davidson (and her husband Jay), and three sons: George Earl Templeton III, Gary Templeton (and his wife Catherine), and Larry Templeton (and his wife Beth), all of Fayetteville. She is survived by a brother, F. D. Moore (and his wife Joyce) of Brookhaven, Mississippi. She is survived by seven grandchildren: Elizabeth Arredondo (and her husband Devon), Laura Morrow (and her husband Eric), Matt Davidson (and his wife Suzannah), Ashley Sharp (and her husband Kevan), Lawson Templeton, Georgia Templeton and Ruby Templeton. She also had two great-grandchildren, Patience Jones and Phoebe Jones, and a third soon to be born, as well as several nieces and nephews.
Bobbie Nell was born from a humble home in McComb, Mississippi. She was the only girl among three brothers. This undoubtedly contributed to how tough and how loving she was. She and her siblings were a diverse, tight-knit bunch. This has held true for her children, too.
Bobbie Nell attended Mississippi College in Clinton, Mississippi. She then attended the University of Wisconsin – Madison where she earned a Master’s Degree in Botany, which was quite an accomplishment for a woman during the 1950’s. It was here where she met her future husband George. They were married in McComb, Mississippi on August 31, 1958.
Raised Southern Baptist and a 62-year member of Central United Methodist Church in Fayetteville, Arkansas, she was broadly conservative and yet voted almost entirely Democratic. Family gatherings with her siblings or her children typically included broad, diverse, and strong opinions. Yet, all views and people were honored and respected. We could all learn from this example. Love was the cornerstone.
A native of Southern Mississippi, she made Northwest Arkansas her second home immediately after marrying George. She quickly became engaged with University women’s groups and local civic organizations. Bobbie Nell served in various capacities with non-profit service organizations such as Ozark Literacy Council, Altrusa International of Fayetteville, P.E.O., NW Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund, Fayetteville Garden Club, Central United Methodist Church, and The Elizabeth Richardson Center. She also helped many new Fayetteville residents by assisting them with new accounts at First National Bank of Fayetteville and by conducting historical tours of downtown Fayetteville.
Her volunteer efforts had an impact on the community. In the early 1960’s she helped start what is now known as the Elizabeth Richardson Center. She was later on a city-wide committee to help get sidewalks built along various streets for the public schools in Fayetteville. She was named one of Washington County’s Women in History in 2012 for her many contributions.
Bobbie Nell was a woman of integrity, and she believed a person should always do the right thing. She was a strong woman who spent her life loving people - family first, but others as well. She generously poured herself into the lives of those around her: her family, her friends, her church family and her community. We will miss her, and her love.
She was always very appreciative of others. This stayed with her to the end, despite the effects of Alzheimer’s. Some of the last words she was heard to say clearly were "Thank you" when someone did something for her, and “I love you” to her children.
After Bobbie Nell’s passing, a family friend recalled her as “such a wonderful, welcoming, caring, dignified, faithful southern lady.”
Viewing will be available without the family present from 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm Friday, November 6, 2020 at Moore’s Chapel. Funeral service will be 1:00 pm, Saturday at Central United Methodist Church in Fayetteville. The service will be limited attendance. Masks and social distancing required. Advance registration required at the following link: https://centralumc.bookwhen.com. The service will be live-streamed at the following link: https://centraltolifeclassic.online.church/. Burial will be at Fairview Memorial Gardens, under the direction of Moore’s Chapel.
Memorials may be made to Central United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 1106, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72702 or to Butterfield Trail Village, 1923 East Joyce Blvd., Fayetteville, Arkansas 72703.
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