Barbara Jean Somerville

Barbara (Bobbie) Jean (Ward-Ferguson) Somerville 95 passed peacefully at her home in Amarillo, TX on August 7, 2024, surrounded by her loving family. 

No services will be held. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors. 

She was born June 24, 1929 in Contra Costa County CA to Eugene Ward (Ferguson) and Nevelyn (Henderson) Ward, along with older brother John Ward and younger sister Helen (Ward) Bonner. The family moved to the Sierra foothill town of Camino CA in her early teens, where they owned and operated the 8 Mile House, a diner/cabin motel/service station/store on the highway to Lake Tahoe during the 1940's. She attended grade-school in Camino and El Dorado High School in Placerville CA, graduating in 1947. She lost her mother to illness one year later. She began her work life and held positions as a phone operator for Pacific Bell, then bookkeeper/receptionist with a local doctor's office. 

During this time she met and married Allan William Silva of Placerville in 1949, and had 3 children: Gail Nevelyn (Silva) Garrett (1953), Stanley Spencer Silva (1958) and Wayne Robert Silva (1959). She was a stay-at-home mom during their early years, returning to work as a bookkeeper during the mid-60's. By the late 60's Barbara had dissolved her marriage and met and married Dale Somerville in 1968, and continued living in the Placerville area. By 1971 she and Dale and the two boys relocated to Dale's childhood area near Central Lake MI. Soon she was hired by the Antrim County Sheriff's office as a Dispatcher, the first woman to hold that position. Within a short time she and Dale opened Chain O' Lakes Auto Body in Bellaire and operated it for many years, eventually selling it and retiring in the mid-90's. Many in the area remember her during this time as Grandma or Aunt Daisy- she was active with the elementary school-age group known as Daisy Girl Scouts. After seeing her husband thru his final years in a battle with cancer, upon his passing in 1998 she re-grouped and became active for the next 25 years in local community activities. She held positions with the Grace Community Church of Central Lake, Central Lake Public Library, Bellaire Historical Society, and others. 

Barbara was a frequent sight at Meadow Brook Medical Care in Bellaire where she visited and cared for many friends thru the years. Some of her personal interests included both flower and vegetable gardening, doll and quilt making, reading, spending time with her grand and great-grandchildren, and visiting with friends. Her smiling face and easy caring personality will be missed by all. The Family will hold a private ceremony in her memory. 

Memorial contributions may be directed to Grace Community Church, 1817 South Main St., Central Lake MI 49622 Ph. 231-544-5131.