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Submitted: 6/18/24 • Approved: 6/22/24 • Last Updated: 6/25/24 • R1535975-G1535975-S3
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*Obituary
Molly Boatman of Cabot passed peacefully at home following a long battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. Molly was the eldest daughter of Dr. Lex and Betty Penix of Denver, CO. She is survived by her husband of 60 years, Bob Boatman and daughters Liz (John) Borger, Sally (Roy) Horsey as well as grandchildren, Julianne, Jacquelynn, Caroline, Zachary and numerous nieces and nephews. Hours following Molly’s death, her sister Patricia Bollacker of Denver passed on as well, joining her sister.
As a child of a Naval Officer during World War Two, Molly lived in numerous places including Philadelphia PA, Pensacola FL, Cape May NJ, and Virginia Beach before settling with her family permanently in Denver. Her sister Patricia (Pat) joined the family in 1947, a day after Molly’s sixth birthday. As a youth of the 1950’s she enjoyed attending summer camp in the Rocky Mountains, playing with neighborhood friends, and being active in her Girl Scout Troop. She graduated from Denver’s South High School in 1959.
Following graduation, she attended Colorado Women’s College for two years earning an associate’s degree. Her next journey would solidify her future as she pursued her bachelor’s degree at her parent’s alma mater, The University of Arkansas. While at the U of A, she joined Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority, where her mother was a charter member in 1925. It was Homecoming 1961 when she went on a blind date with U of A graduate, Bob Boatman. Her comment years later on her first impression of seeing Bob for the first time was “I am going to have a good time tonight!” She would spend the next several years in a long-distance relationship, which became official in May of 1964 in Denver.
The newlyweds headed to Dallas, TX where Bob worked as a chief clerk for the railroad and Molly started her teaching career at TW Browne Junior High School followed by Highland Park Jr. High teaching Home Economics. As her family grew, she stayed home with her girls while remaining active in her church circles. In 1975, Bob proposed they relocate to Arkansas where he would start building homes in a suburb of Little Rock called Cabot. While she stayed in Dallas to show and sell the house, Bob was already working in Cabot, fortunately surviving the devastating 1976 Tornado.
Molly was active with her girls and community as a Girl Scout leader, Bible School teacher, and a regular substitute with the Cabot Public Schools. She became a full-time employee teaching Career Orientation at the Junior High level and was named the Arkansas and Regional Vocational Teacher of the Year in 1994.
Following retirement in 1996, she enjoyed traveling, visiting her sister in Denver, and being active with the Cabot United Methodist Church Women’s groups and circles as well as becoming involved in PEO. In 1999, she became “Granna ” embracing the job wholeheartedly and helping both her girls with their babies as a care and advice giver.
As an outgoing person, Molly was always ready to host a party be it a crawfish cookout, wedding shower, PEO meeting, or bridge club. She was a kind human always willing to help those less fortunate, a trait she instilled in her children.
In a well-articulated journal for her grandchildren, Molly answered the prompt, “How I want to be remembered” by saying, “Being a loving, faithful wife, a good mother as a role model for my girls, a hard-working teacher who hopefully has helped several along the pathway of their lives, and as a kind, thoughtful, compassionate, Christian person.”
The family would like to thank Superior Health Care of Cabot and Arkansas Hospice for their support and guidance over the last year. They are also grateful for the outpouring of support and kind words about Molly from friends and family. Donations can be made in Molly’s memory to the Cabot United Methodist Church Youth Food Program, The Alzheimer’s Association, or the organization of the donor’s choice.
A family-hosted celebration of life will be held at the Cabot United Methodist Church on July 13, 2024.
Arrangements by A Natural State Funeral Service 2620 West Main Street, Jacksonville, Arkansas. 501-982-3400. Online guestbook available at www.anaturalstatefuneralservice.com
Contributed on 6/18/24 by eagle12953
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Record #: 1535975