Bobbie Jean Diggs

Mr. Bobbie Jean Diggs, 72, Springfield, passed away at 9:15 a.m. Wednesday, October 11, 2006.

He was born February 15, 1934 in Pharr, Texas, and was a graduate of Lindsay High School in Lindsay, Okla.

In 1955 he joined the U.S. Army where he served as a medical assistant. Upon his discharge from the Army, he attended the Dallas Institute of Gupton-Jones School of Mortuary Science, earning his degree in Mortuary Science in 1958.

He was a funeral director and embalmer for over 48 years. He was owner and operator of Bob Diggs Funeral Home in Pauls Valley, Okla., for 20 years before selling his company and moving to Anchorage, Alaska, to manage Kehl’s Forest Lawn Mortuary.

Upon his retirement in 1999, he moved to Springfield, Missouri, where he still worked part-time in the funeral service industry.

Bob loved fishing and hunting. He was an active Rotarian for many years and was in the second group of Rotarian’s to travel from Anchorage to Russia to set-up a Rotary Chapter in 1989. He was also a member of the Masonic Lodge.

He was preceded in death by fathers, Finley Provine Diggs and John Houston Nation.

He is survived by his mother, Thelma Dell Welch Diggs Nation, Lindsay, Okla; his best friend and partner in life, Bonnie Johnson, Springfield, Mo.; a daughter, Lisa Ashworth and her husband Jay, Coppell, Texas; a son, Jeff Diggs and wife, Cindy, Anchorage, Alaska; his revenge team of five grandchildren: Daniel and Nathan Ashworth, Jeremy, Meghan and Morgan Diggs; three sisters: Sandy Bare and husband Jim, Sand Springs, Okla.; Barbara Bridwell and husband Bill, Ponca City, Okla.; Sandra Nation Thomas, Mesquite, Texas; a brother, Don Nation and wife Judy, Dallas, Texas; several nieces, nephews and many, many, many friends.

A celebration of Bob’s life will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, October 14, 2006 with visitation following until 3:30 p.m. in J.D. Lee and Sons Funeral Home, Rogersville, Missouri, located at the corner of Highway 60 and Farm Road 223 - 417-753-4300. Burial will be in Fort Richardson National Cemetery, Anchorage, Alaska, at a later date in the summer of 2007.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the All Faith United Methodist Church, HC01 Box 1016, Eagle Rock, MO 65641 and/or American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 1131, Fairfax, VA 22038-1131.

Online condolences and guest books signing may also be made at jdleeandsons.com.