Barbara Jean Roberts

Mrs. Barbara Jean Roberts, age 79, of Ocean Springs, MS., left this mortal life on Thursday, May 18, 2006. Barbara traveled extensively from 1953 to 1977 and raised four children during that time. She was married on August 22, 1953. Her husband joined the Navy in 1959 and the ride began. A two year stay in the Republic of the Philippines started off her voyage. She traveled to the Philippines aboard a navy transport ship with her four year old son. Her next stop was in San Diego, CA. She loved the climate and would have liked to settle there, not to be. Two years in the cajun country of southeast Louisiana followed. She fit right in with the fun loving cajun people. Next was Jacksonville, FL., with four children by this time. Back to San Diego where the family stayed in base housing for two years. She made many friends during her stay there. On to Newport, Rhode Island, where she got to see an America's Cup race, make a snowman and have three hour lunches occasionally with her husband, who was attending the Naval War College. Then to Annapolis, MD., for a four year tour. The family lived in an old but charming two story house on the Naval Academy grounds. The last stop before retirement was a two year tour in the Azores Islands. She and her husband explored the entire hinterlands of the nine island archepelago. The Portuguese people loved Barbara. Each day was a new adventure. The last years of her life were spent in Ocean Springs, MS. Barbara was survived by her husband, Jack, to whom she was married to for 53 years, sons, Jeffrey, Thomas and Mark and one daughter, Jacqueline. Visitation will be on Monday, May 22, 2006, from 1:30 - 2 PM, with a 2 PM Memorial Service, all at the Ocean Springs Chapel of Bradford O'Keefe Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Biloxi National Cemetery.