Bobbie Kay Carruthers entered this life on December 28, 1952, in Topeka, Kansas. She was the second of four children born to Reverend Robert and Pauline (Johnson) Carruthers. Although she was taught about following Jesus from birth, she accepted Christ as Savior for herself during VBS at the Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in Topeka, KS, through the ministry of Rev. Fitch.
Bobbie’s parents, who were celebrated soloists at Tabernacle Baptist Church in Wichita, KS, moved to Topeka in 1950 for a new job opportunity. Since Bobbie came from this musical family, it is no surprise that she started singing at an early age. From preschool she sang with the youngest children in the Sunbeams choir, and later the youth choir. She was mostly known for her beautiful soprano voice in the Antioch adult choir. When she joined the adult choir, she was able to sing praises to our God, standing next to her mother Pauline, blending their beautiful soprano voices. Even into her mother’s later years, Bobbie made sure she and her mother were part of the music ministry at Antioch. Bobbie had a deep love for all kinds of music and had a very impressive R&B album collection. However, gospel music was perhaps her greatest love.
Raised to be very involved in the life of the church, Bobbie served her church family at Antioch for over 55 years. In addition to music, as a young lady she was involved in the Girls Auxiliary (GA’s) where she completed the GA girls mission program through the highest level, Queen with a Scepter. As a young adult she was involved in the Young Matrons Mission group. Although her parents moved to Topeka where they had no blood relatives in the city, through her church family, Bobbie grew up with a number of “adopted” siblings, aunts, uncles, and lifelong friends.
Bobbie grew up in Topeka and attended Parkdale and Monroe Elementary schools, Crane Jr. High, and Topeka High School, Class of 1970. While at Topeka High she sang with the Choraliers Women’s choir and also the Robed Choir under the direction of Mr. Elbert Fly. In her junior year she was selected to be part of the chorus in Topeka High’s production of The Unsinkable Molly Brown.
Bobbie received her nursing certification from Kaw Area Vocational School and was certified as a licensed practical nurse (LPN). She had a long and dedicated career as a nurse. Gifted by God with a compassionate heart, she was an extraordinarily loving and hardworking nurse.
While living in Topeka she worked at Saint Francis Hospital for over 25 years. She and her son moved to Dallas, TX, in 2007 to be closer to her daughter and her daughter’s expanding family. There she continued to give compassionate care at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Dallas, TX. She retired in 2013, ending a 35-year career as a dedicated and selfless nurse.
Bobbie was a loving and devoted mother to Ericka Joi and David Charles, her two children. She worked the overnight shift for many years so she could be available to take her children to school each morning and be there for them when they came home.
She was full of life and her home was a fun and safe haven to all her children’s friends. They knew they were always welcome, safe, and loved in her home. She was a second “momma” to many, providing her famous chocolate chip cookies as a staple treat for all who visited.
Surrounded in love by her family, Bobbie departed this earthly life to gain her eternal life’s reward on April 3, 2023, in Dallas, TX. Bobbie was preceded in death by her father Reverend Robert Carruthers and her mother Pauline (Johnson) Carruthers. Bobbie leaves to cherish her memory, continuing her legacy of selfless compassionate love, her two children Ericka Gregg (Jason) of Little Elm, Texas, and David Hall, Plano, Texas; one sister Cynthia (John) Luckett, Raleigh, NC; two brothers Chatman (Audrey) Carruthers, Atlanta, GA, and Ronald Carruthers, Raleigh, NC; three grandchildren Jason Gregg II and Eric Gregg, Little Elm, Texas, and Christian Starkes, San Antonio, TX; nieces Courtney (Philippe) Bone, Charlottesville, VA, and Lindsay Luckett, Raleigh, NC; nephew Kyle Carruthers, Mableton, GA; Dedra Clark-Allen (Monroe Jr.), Mendenhall, MS, (who she embraced, loved and considered a daughter); one aunt Laurissia Johnson, Tulsa, OK; a host of cousins she loved and considered to be her siblings, countless non-biological nieces and nephews as well as numerous friends whom she loved dearly.
Family and friends are invited to a Visitation at the Berkshire Chapel, 9073 Berkshire Drive, Frisco, Texas 75033, on Friday, April 14, 2023 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. A Funeral Service will be held at the Berkshire Chapel on Saturday, April 15, 2023, beginning at 12:00 PM. Interment will follow at Little Elm Cemetery, in Little Elm, Texas. The service will be livestreamed at the following link; https://celebrationoflife.tv/blog/bobbie-kay-carruthers.