On Friday morning, November 11, 2011, God called Barbara "Bobbie" VanAuken home. Surrounded by her loving family, Bobbie passed peacefully from this life. She was born in New Iberia, Louisiana. Bobbie graduated from Port Neches-Groves High School and went on to continue her education by completing nursing school at Lamar University in 1973. She had a compassion for people and enjoyed a successful career in nursing as an LVN in ICU/CCU as well as a private-duty, cardiac nurse.
Bobbie loved the outdoors and enjoyed hunting; however, her favorite pastime was reading. She was an avid reader and could read a book-a-day! She loved all kinds of literature, especially spiritual. Her favorite book was her Bible. Bobbie was a deeply spiritual person who coveted her relationship with the Lord as well as with her church family at Kirbyville United Methodist Church.
She was preceded in death by her father, Simonet Joseph Romero.
Those left to cherish her memory include her mother, Janine Celeste Berthelemy from Groves; her beloved husband of almost forty-four years, Ty VanAuken of Kirbyville; and their two children, son, T.J. VanAuken of Kirbyville, and daughter, Tycie Maxwell Valka and her two sons, Michael Ryan Simmons and Justin Taylor Simmons, all of Nederland, to whom Bobbie was known as MaDear. Her siblings are, older sister, Bea Wood, and her husband, Carl and their son and daughter-in-law, Robert and Miranda Patton and their children, Lori and Drake, all of Beaumont; brother Chris Romero and his wife, Karen and their children, Joshua Funderberg and Leigh Head and her daughter, Ellie Rose, born 11-11-11, all of Houston; sister, Kathy Saucier and her husband Anthony and their son Joshua Williamson; and a host of other relatives and friends.
A celebration for Bobbie will be held 4:00 p.m. Sunday, December 4, 2011 at Kirbyville United Methodist Church, 105 West Main Street, Kirbyville, Texas.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 755 South 11th Street, Suite 212, Beaumont, Texas 77701.
Bobbie, you were such a blessing in all of our lives. Your optimism and your love for the Lord inspired so many people. You truly taught us how to “live and not die”. The memory of you will live in our hearts forever. May you rest in peace.
