Bobbie Jean Condon

Bobbie Jean Condon, 89, of Beaumont, died Thursday, November 2, 2017. She was born on October 6, 1928, in Little Rock, Arkansas, to Opal Della Raymond English and Robert Fulton English.

Bobbie Jean is survived by her son, Gerald Condon and his wife, Jennifer; daughter, Jeana Condon Foster and her husband, Kelly; grandchildren, Michelle Condon, Molly Condon, Kaitlin Lowery, and Daniel Foster; great-grandchild, Paisley Bryan; and brother, Dale English and his wife, Barbara.

She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, Archie Ronald Condon; sisters, Bettie Smotherman, Johnnie Lynch, Allie Ruth Parrish, Hazel Vaughn, and Margie Martin; and brother, Buddy English. Bobbie, a twin in a large family of seven children, was born a country girl in Arkansas and raised in Center, TX, but because of her independent and adventurous spirit, moved to the nearest big city, Beaumont, to work for Sun Oil when she was a young woman. In Beaumont, Bobbie met her husband on a blind date. Bobbie’s best girlfriend arranged a double date with her boyfriend and his cousin, Archie Condon. Archie, none too keen on going out with someone he’d never met, refused to sit in the back seat of the car when they picked up Bobbie. However, by the end of the evening Archie had moved to the backseat. The couple dated for nine years during which time Bobbie was transferred to Chicago with Sun Oil. On a visit to Beaumont Christmas 1955 Archie proposed, and the couple was married in January 1956 in St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, which became the church they attended their entire lives. One of Bobbie’s biggest life challenges was assimilating into her husband’s large Italian family and learning to cook the “Italian way.” In the early days of marriage, some meals were thrown in the yard but eventually Bobbie became everyone’s cook. She hosted all the family holiday events, birthdays and celebrations. She made sure everyone around her was happy, especially her children. She was her kids’ mom, always caring for them and doting on them. She made their clothes, cooked their meals and made sure they had everything they needed to be successful in life. Bobbie and Archie had a solid marriage; Archie adored her and gifted her every Christmas with beautiful jewelry. He also liked to buy her a new car every four years or so on her birthday. Her favorite a silver Oldsmobile silver with burgundy interior that had cornering lights on the outside fenders. She loved the bright lights that came on when she was turning so she could see where she was turning. When Bobbie’s kids grew up, she reentered the working world. She worked for the Better Business Bureau, a daycare center and ultimately went to work for one of the family businesses – Condon Rental All. Bobbie was a caring mother-in-law and devoted grandmother who just welcomed everyone who entered her world with love and kindness. Her grandchildren adored her and called her Meemaw remembering that she was always happy, never spoke an unkind word and was always there to comfort others. She was patient, gracious, forgiving, soft-spoken and sensitive, always calm even in stressful times. She nurtured her family to her dying day. She was always asking others, especially her children and grandchildren if they were healthy and happy. Others were her greatest concern. Bobbie died as she lived with her family around her. The family is grateful to Jeana, her loving and talented daughter, who sacrificed her life to meet the needs of her mother for the past five years. A gathering of Mrs. Condon’s family and friends will be 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., Friday, November 10, 2017, at Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin Avenue, Beaumont. Her funeral service will be 10:00 a.m., Saturday, November 11, 2017, at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 680 Calder Avenue, Beaumont, with her interment to follow at Magnolia Cemetery, Beaumont.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Mark’s Episcopal Church Building Fund, 680 Calder Avenue, Beaumont, Texas 77701.