The Hobbs Family

This photo is of Joe Hobbs and his wife Dorothy Smith Hobbs.  The small girl on the top is Naomi Hobbs McKinney, and the bottom row left to right Ted Hobbs, Bonnie Hobbs Nicklen, and Joe Dean Hobbs.  There were two other siblings born after this picture was taken, Oscar Douglas Hobbs and Jackie Hobbs.  This family is the beginning of the Hobbs Family as I know it.

Take 56 people more or less, all with big personalities and egos, throw in some food, fun and music and you have the recipe for Hobbs Family Reunion. Oddly enough, there were only a few small children running around and about a dozen teens and young adults. As for most of the rest of us, I have to say we weren’t on the up side of the hill.

Rear:  Bryan, Jody Front: Aunt Bonnie, Becky

Since it has been many years since I attended a family reunion, I was pleasantly surprised to meet some relatives that I vaguely remembered as a child. Aunt Snow, Carolyn, and Ron were old but new relatives to me and we reminisced about camping on Spring River. It is odd what memories will come back to you as you talk about happenings from the past.

Grandma Sue, Aunt Bonnie, my mother, Jan Hobbs

Me, my cousins, Tim and Mike

I was excited to see some of my cousins that I had not seen since I was small. We are all so different from back then and yet still so the same.

There were some that were missed at the reunion. Those who were unable to make it and those who are no longer with us. I remembered them today.

While filling my plate, Carolyn remarked about (Grandma) Dorothy and how she would turn over in her grave if she knew some of us grand kids didn’t cook (I’m not pointing any fingers at either myself or Becky).

As I hugged all my aunts and uncles, I remembered Aunt Pat and Aunt Donna. Aunt Donna always had a big laugh and ready smile and listening to Michael talk was like listening to Uncle J.D., I kept waiting for him to kick his leg in the air and shout Hallelujah.

Grandpa Hobbs and Aunt Bonnie

Last, but not least, Grandpa Hobbs. I can only imagine that he would have been proud to see all the family that came together today. In his own gruff mean way, he loved all of us-even if he couldn’t express it.

I’m not sure I have all the names but below is a mini-family tree:

Joe and Dorothy Hobbs = Ted, Naomi, Bonnie, J.D. Doug, and Jackie

Ted and Pat Hobbs= Tim, Kim

Naomi and Randy McKinney= Nannett and Randy

Bonnie and Gene Nicklen=Donna

J.D. and Raylee Hobbs= Joe Dean, Jr., Terry, Cindy and Michael

Doug and Jan Hobbs=Vicky, Tammy, and Nancy

Jackie ?= Gina, Jodie, ? Becky