Bobby Yoes

Bobby Yoes, a long-time resident of Buffalo Gap, Texas, passed from this world and into eternal life on Saturday, June 8, 2024. A celebration of Bobby's life will be held at Unity Church at 2842 Barrow in Abilene, on Saturday, June 15, at 11:30 a.m.

Bobby was born in his grandparents' home near Graham Lake on January 10, 1939. He attended schools in Ovalo, Sweetwater, and Abilene before graduating from Trent High School in 1958. He loved the outdoors, always working, playing and exploring nature.

When he was a young man, he was told not to come home without a job, so Bobby went to a road construction site in Taylor County and picked up a shovel. The boss of the site decided they would keep him, and when he went home that night, he could proudly say that he had a job with the Texas Highway Department during the construction of Interstate 20 through Taylor County. Bobby also worked in the oilfields of West Texas and as a butcher at Safeway. Bobby eventually joined the Texas Railroad Commission, and he retired from the Commission in March, 2001.

But the job that made the most difference in Bobby's life was his job at the Watch Factory, the Timex plant in Abilene in the mid-1960's. It was there that his attention was captured by Tenna Bolen, and in spite of her initial reluctance to go out with him, Bobby's persistence paid off. They began dating, and they were married on August 4, 1966.

Bobby's and Tenna's lives were filled with fun and music. They enjoyed square dancing and traveled the state for dances. They shared their enjoyment with family and friends. He once built a "washtub" bass following instructions he found in an encyclopedia, and soon he was playing it quite well. Bobby was a self-taught musician, known as an accomplished bassist and guitar player in various bluegrass, country, folk and jazz groups in West Texas. Notably, the legendary fiddler Johnny Gimble would request Bobby as his bass player when he came to San Angelo. Bobby treasured the time he spent playing music with his friends.

Bobby had a well-known affinity for Whataburger, often dining there with Tenna several times a week. He was always recognized and fondly greeted at the South Abilene Whataburger. He loved animals - dogs, cats, and even the deer which came daily into his Buffalo Gap backyard and which would come close to allowing him to hand-feed them.

Bobby was preceded in death by his parents, Beatrice Childers and James Raymond. Bobby is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Tenna Yoes, his dear sister Janie Yoes Heatly, his beloved nieces Melissa Gorman, Nikki Doby and Latonia Luttrell, Mary Mead, Martha Doby, and numerous grand-nephews and grand-nieces, and a countless host of friends.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to the Alzheimer's Association at 301 S Pioneer Dr #105, Abilene, TX 79605, Rescue the Animals SPCA at 4620 N 1st St, Abilene, TX 79603, the Taylor-Jones Humane Society at 2301 N 3rd St, Abilene, TX 79603 or another charitable organization of your choice.