From Shafter's farm labor camp to the prestige of New York's Wall Street, Roberta Liles Zachary lived her life with a directness and flair that made her unforgettable. Never fading into blandness, Bobbie finished her 80-years on this earth with the same intelligence, frankness and humor that characterized her entire life. Bobbie died surrounded by the love of her four daughters and son-in-laws, 22 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren – a family grateful for the certain knowledge that she was finally at home with her Savior Jesus Christ. She grew up in Shafter, poor yet supported by the strong faith, love and honorable example of her maternal grandparents, Ruby and John Grumbles. "Grannie" and "Papa" provided a home for Bobbie, her two sisters and mother, first in the farm labor camp and eventually in a house in Shafter. Her grandfather, who picked cotton well into his 60s, helped found Shafter's Southern Baptist Church and Bobbie grew up attending revival meetings and church services, where each powerful sermon on hell would prompt her to ask Jesus into her heart again – "just to make sure." Throughout high school, Bobbie worked three jobs, including a carhop at Nick's Drive In and a bookkeeper at a local store. Although there was no money for pretty clothes or extras, Bobbie had more important advantages: a natural intelligence that allowed her to excel and outstanding taste in boys. During her junior year at Shafter High School she began dating Phillip Zachary, a local boy known for his kindness, and before graduating in 1951, she would attend the senior prom with Phil, wearing a dress purchased by his mom Opal. An avid learner, Bobbie went on to complete two years at Bakersfield College before transferring to UC Santa Barbara. But she never finished her degree: she and Phil were married during a weekend leave from the army and over the next 7 years, created a home filled with four little girls. Committed to raising their daughters in the small, close-knit community of Shafter, Phil spent part of his career commuting between Los Angeles and Shafter while repeatedly rejecting job offers that would force the family to move. Bobbie was an expert seamstress, and from birth through high school, made the girls clothes – and made them so beautifully the clothes could have been worn inside out with little noticeable difference. She made formal dresses, costumes, Jr. Miss Contestant dresses, school clothes and even the occasional swimsuit – all of which her daughters wore with great pride. In so many ways, Bobbie was ahead of her time. She was a tiger mom long before it was cool. She placed enormous emphasis on reading and new books were a central part of every Christmas and birthday gift. She came up with remarkably creative ideas for school projects, edited essays and other assignments, and actively participated in the girls' classrooms. When she was the classroom mom, her activities, snacks and field trips had a flair that few others could offer. While other campfire troops were cutting and pasting, Bobbie's troops were creating pebble villages – dozens of houses, buildings and people created from small pebbles – and bringing home countless first place ribbons from the Kern County Fair. When her daughters showed little interest in completing their college applications on time, Bobbie completed and submitted them herself – and all four girls went to top schools. She was an excellent writer and researcher, and when she wasn't hauling the girls to swim meets or serving as a cook for the Congregational Church Youth Group's week-long bicycle trips, she was pursuing an interest and passion for discovering history. She eventually authored and published three books on genealogy, tracing family linages back to the 1500's. When the last daughter left for college, Phil accepted a job offer from New York as the top executive with the world's second largest securities firm. And while many expected the transition to be difficult for Bobbie, just the opposite occurred: the girl from Shafter, whose first choice in social activities was reading a book and first choice in attire was a velour robe, built a life for herself in Manhattan that included new friends, new activities and a new wardrobe. Although she flew home often to see her grandchildren, it was with great excitement and joy that she and Phil moved back to Shafter seven years later to become full-time, doting grandparents. Throughout her life, Bobbie was unfailingly direct – her advice and suggestions for improvement were not for the faint-hearted -- but she was also deeply caring and her compassion extended far beyond her daughters and grandchildren. Long before adopting a family at Christmas time became popular, Bobbie was clothing and supporting a family in need. She was a volunteer ombudsman for nursing homes, demonstrating a passion for improving the care and lives of the elderly, as well as a volunteer cook at Bakersfield's Guild House. Before farm workers became a cause championed by celebrities, Bobbie was a Camp Fire leader for a group of girls who lived in the farm labor camp. Babysitters and cleaning ladies who came into Bobbie's home became cherished friends and adopted grandparents: after her daughters were grown, Bobbie spent years caring for the girls' babysitter Marian Ries – and after Marian's death, Bobbie would spend more years caring for her husband Maurice. Her unique combination of natural intuitiveness, empathy and breathtaking frankness meant that if you walked away from her in a store or doctor's office, when you came back you would almost certainly find her offering advice on how to fix a bad marriage, an underperforming child and a stalled career –information she had gained in about four minutes from whatever stranger she had just met. Diagnosed with renal failure in 1987, Bobbie's health began to seriously deteriorate in January. Her recent hospital stay and hospice care was filled with the love and affection of children and grandchildren who will always treasure the love and uniqueness of their "Gammy." In her final days, whatever else was forgotten or confused, the names of her grandchildren – as well as the nicknames she had given each of them – were the last remaining detail she remembered. Last Sunday, Bobbie joined Phil and her beloved grandson J.P. in Heaven. She left behind her four daughters and son-in-laws: Anne and Ralph Fruguglietti, Susan and Michael Mulligan, Jane and Michael Jones, and Melinda and Greg Martin; grandchildren Ashley Fruguglietti, Anthony (and wife Ashley) Fruguglietti, Katina (and husband Jessey) Esposito, Theresa (and husband Kyle) Johnson, Katy Lindgren Reece, Jacob Wright, Mackenzie (and wife Anna) Mulligan, Oliver (and wife Marissa) Mulligan, Kaley Mulligan, Kristina Mulligan, Jacob Mulligan, Phillip Mulligan, Fernando Mulligan, Zachary Colbert, Rachel (and husband Matt) Melnyk, Macdonald Colbert, Andrew Martin, Roberta Martin, Caroline Martin and Luke Martin; and great-grandchildren: Aidan Wright, Sofie and Jack Fruguglietti, Evelyn Colbert, Giorgina Esposito and Dessa Johnson. In addition, she is survived by her "adopted daughter" Lisa Lindgren, her sister Laverne Cole, and numerous nieces and nephews. Graveside services will be held Saturday, March 14th, 10:00 am at the Shafter Cemetery, followed by an 11:00 am memorial service at the Congregational Bible Church of Shafter.