Roberta J. “Bobbie” Corey, 74, of Marion, passed away on Wednesday, September 22, 2021, at home after a year-long battle with cancer. She was born in Marion on May 5, 1947, the daughter of the late James (Rosie) Howell and Geraldine (John) Finch. She married Philip Corey on March 4, 1966.
Once they were married, Bobbie joined Phil at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, where he was serving in the Army. In July of 1967, Phil and Bobbie returned to Marion. She worked in the credit department at The Davis Clinic until they welcomed their first child in 1970. Bobbie stayed at home and lovingly cared for their three daughters while helping Phil tend to the family farm. In 1977, Phil and Bobbie bought a 5,000 hen-laying house and Bobbie set to building her egg business. She sold farm fresh eggs to customers out of her home and to Doyle Bros. Eggs in Van Buren.
In 1989, Bobbie made a career change and went to work at Sears Roebuck & Co., where she made some lifelong friends. She retired in 2003 after 14 1/2 years.
Bobbie was a charter member of the Towne and Country Homemakers Club. She always enjoyed the monthly meetings with her friends.
Phil and Bobbie were also active in the Mississinewa Valley Corvette Club, and they went on several trips where they caravanned in their Corvettes with other club members. She attended Grace Community Church and enjoyed the Bible study that she would often go to on Tuesday mornings. Phil and Bobbie had also been 4-H leaders when their daughters were active 4-H members.
Bobbie enjoyed bird watching and was always feeding her feathered friends. Over the more recent years, she had become involved with monarch butterfly preservation. She would track how many butterflies she released each day and, over the past 3 years, she had released 415 monarch butterflies.
She is survived by her husband of 55 years, Philip Corey of Marion; daughters, Rachelle (Greg) Roush of Saline, MI, and Teresa (Tim) Templin of Converse; eight grandchildren who adored their Grandma Corey: Corissa, Evan, and Wade Roush; Tori, Claire, and Corey Templin; and Reagan and Rylyn Rutowski.
She was preceded in death by her daughter, P.J. Corey, who lost her own battle with cancer in April of 2021. She was also preceded in death by her parents and sister, Patricia.
The family will receive visitors from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm on Sunday, September 26, 2021, at Needham-Storey-Wampner Funeral Service, North Chapel, 1341 N. Baldwin Ave., Marion, IN.
On Monday, September 27, 2021, a funeral service to celebrate Bobbie’s life will begin at 10:00 am at Grace Community Church, 1810 E. Bradford Pike, Marion, IN. Pastor Tom Mansbarger and Pastor Mark Hummel will be officiating with burial following at Gardens of Memory in Marion.
The family would like to express their gratitude to all of the caregivers from Heart to Heart Hospice who helped the family care for Bobbie. Also, Bobbie’s family wants to thank Dr. Bendaly and the staff of the Progressive Cancer Care Center for their care over the past year.
Memorial contributions may be directed to Heart to Heart Hospice, 1385 N. Baldwin Ave., Marion, IN 46952.
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