Bobbie Jo Stephens, age 58, passed away unexpectedly on August 7, 2026. Her sudden passing leaves an immeasurable emptiness in the hearts of her family, friends, and the many people who were fortunate enough to be loved by her.

Bobbie had recently accomplished something that showed just how much strength and fight she carried within her-she had successfully beaten Stage 3 small cell carcinoma. She faced an incredibly difficult battle and came through the other side, making her unexpected passing especially difficult for those who were looking forward to having so much more time with her.

In the early 2000s, Bobbie spent a short time working as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) and later provided home health care for several years. Caring for people came naturally to her, but Bobbie certainly didn't need a job title to take care of someone. It was simply part of who she was.

Bobbie never knew a stranger. Everyone was a friend, and everyone deserved to be loved equally in her eyes. If you were a friend of one of her children or grandchildren, before long you were probably one of her kids or grandkids, too. She became "Mama" and "Granny" to countless people who weren't related by blood, because Bobbie never needed blood to make someone family.

Anyone who knew Bobbie knew there was absolutely no wondering what she was thinking. She was stubborn, sassy, outspoken, and never afraid to speak her mind. You didn't have to ask Bobbie for her opinion-there was a pretty good chance she was going to give it to you anyway. That fire was part of what made her Bobbie. She loved fiercely, stood her ground, and lived life as exactly who she was.

But underneath all that sass was an incredibly big heart. Bobbie loved her children unconditionally. There was nothing they could ever do that would stop them from being hers or stop her from loving them.

As deeply as Bobbie loved her children, everyone knew that her grandbabies held the biggest piece of her heart. She wanted to spend as much time with them as she possibly could. Time with Summer and Kadyn wasn't something she simply enjoyed-it was something she treasured. Being their Granny was one of the greatest joys of her life, and there was very little she wouldn't have done for them.

Her grandchildren will forever carry something especially precious with them: the knowledge that they were loved completely, proudly, fiercely, and without condition by their Granny.

Bobbie is survived by her daughter, Christie Gardner, and Christie's husband, Bobby Gardner; her beloved grandchildren, Summer Gardner and Kadyn Gardner; her son, Olen Stephens III; her former husband, Olen Stephens II; and her soulmate, James "Rory" Brown.

She is also survived by her siblings, Suzy Ruffaner and her husband, Tim; Marsha Mathis (Hammon); and Rex Mathis Jr.

Bobbie was preceded in death by her parents, Peggy and Rex Mathis, and her sister, Debbie Mathis.