Bobby Lynn Boatright

MANSFIELD - Bobby Lynn Boatright, 69, passed away Sunday, Dec. 28, 2008.

Graveside service: 10 a.m. Tuesday in Mansfield Cemetery. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at Blessing Funeral Home.

Bobby was born in Denison on Sept. 30, 1939. He began playing his fiddle professionally at the age of 11. In 1954, at the age of 14, his family moved to Wichita Falls where he began playing in a band led by radio personality Bill Mack. They played two television shows a week and traveled the Texas and Oklahoma area playing dances and stage shows five and six nights a week.

Bob was a member of the Original Texas Playboys, under the direction of Leon McAuliffe, from 1977 to 1986, when the group retired after giving their famous For The Last Time concert in Fort Worth. During the time he was a member of the Original Texas Playboys, they recorded a segment for the archive of the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. They also appeared on "Austin City Limits" and played on the soundtrack of the Academy Award winning movie, "Places In The Heart." He also appeared on the television show "Texas Connection" with Playboys II, a group of former Texas Playboys led by Herb Remington and Johnny Gimble.

Bob was presently working with the Texas Playboys, under the leadership of Leon Rausch and Tommy Allsup. He played on several cruise ships as well as having worked with Don Edwards, representing the State Of Texas Tourism in Great Britain.
Bobby also taught math and physics in Bells and Cedar Hill. He retired from teaching at Weatherford Junior College.

Survivors: Wife, Linda Boatright of Mansfield; daughters, Sherri Barnett of Hurst and Laura Chandler of Fort Worth; grandchild, Taylor Barnett; brother, Johnny Boatright of Katy; sisters, Sue Beach of Sherman and Jan Boatright of Bells; countless friends.