Bobby Gerald Finley passed away Friday, February 13, 2015 at the age of 82. Bobby was born to Robert Gerald and Willie Jewel (Forgus) Finley in Grassland, TX on October 25, 1932.
Bobby grew up in Meadow, Lubbock, and Floydada. He graduated from Floydada High School, he received a basketball scholarship to West Texas State, where he majored in Education and later earned his Master’s degree. One of his proudest accomplishments was being invited to play basketball at Madison Square Garden.
Before his senior year of college, he married his high school sweetheart, Joy McCravey on July 29, 1953 in Clovis, NM. He was drafted to the Army in 1954, at the end of the Korean War. He and Joy lived in Aberdeen, Maryland for 13 months, until he received orders to Germany as part of the WWII Occupation Forces. They spent the next 16 months there and traveled to many places in Germany, France, and Austria. After returning home, Bobby taught and coached for 2 years in Tulia and 3 years in Rankin. He worked for the General Electric Capital Corporation for twenty-five years, becoming a regional manager. This job moved his family to Abilene, Lubbock, Dallas, Denver, and Jacksonville, FL, before retiring to Lake Brownwood in 1990. During retirement, he spent his time fishing and hunting, until going to work for Bangs ISD. He was a substitute teacher and eventually was hired as a full time AEP teacher. He loved playing dominos and ’42’, reading, and was a proud fan and supporter of the Bangs High School athletic program, even being named Fan of the Year.
Bobby is survived by his daughter, Kim Newton and son-in-law, Gary Miller of Lake Brownwood; granddaughter, Tamara Mata and husband Landon of North Richland Hills; grandson, Bobby Newton of Bridgeport; two great-grandchildren, Adison and Brendan Mata; sister-in-law, Joy Finley of Midland; brother-in-law, Ronnie McCravey and wife Melba; sister-in-law, Sherron McCravey. He is also survived by many cousins, nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, and close friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife of 48 years in 2001, Joy Finley; born stillborn son, Ken; brothers, Don and James Finley; and sister, Erma Dean and her husband, Chester Griffith.
Memorial Services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 21, 2015 at Blaylock Funeral Home Chapel with Bill Slaymaker officiating. His ashes will be taken to Lakeview Cemetery in Floyd County at a later date. Arrangements are under the direction of Blaylock Funeral Home of Brownwood.
Online condolences for the family are welcome at www.blaylockfuneralhome.com. The family requests memorials can be made to the Ben Richey’s Boys Ranch, 501 Ben Richey Dr, Abilene, TX 79602 or online at www.benrichey.org/donate.