Bobbie Lou Wilson

Bobbie Lou (Hayes) Wilson, age 89, a longtime resident of Delaware, Oklahoma, moved to her heavenly home on Tuesday, February 11, 2025. Bobbie was born to Lee and Esther Hayes on March 16, 1935, in Lindsay, Oklahoma. She grew up in the Lindsay/Erin Springs area and graduated from Lindsay High School in 1953. She was the oldest of three girls, and at a young age, she often cared for her younger sisters while their parents worked in the fields. They grew up feeling like Bobbie was a 2nd mother to them.

On September 23, 1954, Bobbie married Raymond Wilson in Erin Springs, Oklahoma. The couple moved many times and to several states in their early married years while Raymond worked in the oil fields. They had three children: Pamela, Jonathan, and Karen. After living in the Lindsay area for several years, they settled in Delaware, Oklahoma, in 1965, where Raymond managed the H.E. Ketcham Lumber Company. Bobbie was a homemaker but also cleaned homes for several ladies in town, later working at Landers Bros. grocery store for many years. After living in their Delaware home for 45 years, the couple moved to Nowata, Oklahoma, in 2011.

Bobbie was a great seamstress, making many clothes for herself and her daughters as they grew up. She had a green thumb and always enjoyed her plants and flowers. She was a quiet and meek woman, rarely speaking when in a group of people, but could talk for hours one-on-one. She loved reading and history, mainly Biblical history. Bobbie was always loving, kind, and very selfless. She rarely gave her opinion on things of little importance, but she stood her ground when it came to her beliefs and convictions, always relying on God’s Word to guide her.

As a longtime member of the First Baptist Church in Delaware, Bobbie loved teaching her Sunday School class and was also the custodian for many years. She loved her Lord and Savior more than anything and spent countless hours reading and studying her Bible. She lived her life as a wonderful example for her children, grandchildren, and all who knew her. It was her strong faith in the Lord that sustained her as she went through the most difficult times in her life, including burying two of her three children.

For the last year of her life, Bobbie resided at Asbury Village in Coffeyville, Kansas, where she received remarkable care. The family would like to thank the entire staff for their kindness and compassion while meeting all her needs.

Bobbie was preceded in death by her parents, Lee and Esther Hayes; her two sisters and their husbands, Ann and Leo Glass and Shirley and Loren Miller; Raymond, her husband of nearly 60 years; her children, Pam Palone and John Wilson; and her son-in-law Bob Thornburgh.

Bobbie is survived by her daughter Karen Palone (John) of South Coffeyville, step-son Jim Jones (Colline) of Spokane, WA, step-daughter Sarah Thornburgh of Fort Towson, OK, son-in-law Nick Palone of Bentonville, AR, daughter-in-law Connie Tharp (Steve) of Nowata, OK, as well as grandchildren Amy Reaves (Chris), Holly Wilson, Noah Palone, Lindsay Snyder (Brandon), Kate Palone (Marina), Kiera Wilson, Kayla Wilson, Martina Thomason (Matt), Zachary Wilson (Angela), Jacob Wilson, and many great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

A private service will be held at a later date.

Online condolences may be made at www.honoringmemoriesnowata.com or on the funeral home Facebook page. Arrangements are in the care of Benjamin Funeral Service of Nowata.