Roberta Hoffart ""Bobbie"" Bailey

Roberta "Bobbie" June Bailey passed away peacefully Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2017, at Madonna Towers of Rochester, where she had lived since 2012.

Bobbie was born Sept. 13, 1928, in Johnson City, Ill., as an only child to Henry and Alma (Stover) Hoffart. She graduated from Johnson City High school in 1946 and worked for three years as an accountant in an auto parts store. She graduated from McKendree University in Lebanon, Ill., with a degree in business education. She taught in Coulterville, Ill., and Collensville, Ill., prior to attending graduate school at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks. In 1960, she took a bus to Rochester to interview and was offered her choice of a job at the Rochester Junior College or John Marshall High School. She chose John Marshall High School, where she taught business education for nearly 30 years.

In 1989, she retired from the Rochester school system to marry Arthur L. Bailey. They lived in Pepin, Wis., for seven years and after her husband's death, Roberta returned to Rochester.

Bobbie loved cats and treated them as her children. She was an insatiable reader and was one of Barnes & Noble's best customers. She enjoyed traveling the United States and Canada and seized the opportunity to travel to China. She easily struck up conversations with strangers who quickly became friends.

A special thank you to the wonderful staff at Madonna Towers for the loving care provided to Bobbie over the years. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Madonna Living Community Foundation of Rochester, Paws & Claws, Safe Haven Pet Rescue, or a charity of your choice.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 20, at the Madonna Towers chapel, with the Rev. Nancy Wheeler Handlon from Christ United Methodist Church officiating.

Online condolences are welcome and may be shared at mahnfamilyfuneralhome.com.