Dorothy Bobette Rice Starr

Bobette Starr died Friday, November 11, 2011, in Ocean Springs at the age of 91. She was born in Gulfport on March 18, 1920, the daughter of the late Robert L. Rice and the late Rosa Miller Rice. She graduated from Gulfport High School and attended business school before beginning what would be a 50 year career as an optician. Mrs. Starr first worked in the office of Gulfport optometrist, Dr. L. B. Darren. She later worked at Memphis Optical while her husband, the late Dr. William Henry “Bill” Starr, attended the Southern College of Optometry In Memphis, TN. She spent most of her career working with her husband Bill, a respected optometrist in Gulfport, and later with her son, the late Robert Cary Starr, with Star Optical. Bill and Bobette Starr were happily married from 1937 to 1980 and worked together until her husband’s death. The couple had an active social life with family and friends and attended many events related to her husband’s professional and community organizations such as the Mississippi Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo and the Mississippi Gulf Coast Junior College. Mrs. Starr loved her work, but she also raised five children and was actively involved in her childrens’ sports, scouting, dance and other interests. She was a active member of the PTA. She was popular among her childrens’ friends, hosting gatherings, transporting groups to events and putting on creative parties. She was such a good sport that she even played the role of Santa Claus in the school Christmas party. She is preceded in death by her husband, Dr. William Henry Starr; her son, Robert Cary Starr; her daughter, Sandra Starr; two sisters Rose Margaret “TeTe” Rice Foretich and Audrey Rice Kennedy (Herron Kennedy); a brother, Robert L. “Sonny” Rice, Jr. (Rosemary Foretich Rice); and her dear brother-in-law, John Peppard “Jack” Starr. She is survived by two sons, John Patrick “Pat” Starr of Gulfport and William “Bill, Jr.” Starr (Darlene) of Royal Palm, FL; a daughter, Sheree Starr (Stefan Massong) of Ocean Springs; a sister, Johniel Rice Dunaway (Robert) of Gulfport; a brother-in-law, Captain John Foretich of Gulfport; four grandchildren: Stephanie Starr Valentine (Mathew) of Richton, Kim Starr Matheny (Jerry) of Gulfport, James Starr of Covington, LA and William “Bill” Starr of California and eight great-grandchildren. While Mrs. Starr was close to her many nieces and nephews, her niece Charlotte Foretich Ryan (Chuck) was especially close during the last years of her life. Mrs. Starr was a member of Sr. John’s Catholic Church in Gulfport. She was a lifelong Gulfport resident until the last three years of her life when poor health required her to move to Ocean Springs to live with her daughter. At the time of her death, she had been cared for at Ocean Spring Nursing Center, where she received warm support from the staff. Visitation Monday, November 14, 2001, from 6:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M., Funeral Services Tuesday, November 15, 2011 at 11:00 A.M. both at BRADFORD-O’KEEFE FUNRAL HOME 15th St. Gulfport. Interment will be in Evergreen Cemetery, Gulfport. Flowers will be accepted or a donation in Mrs. Starr’s name may be made to St. John’s Catholic Church, P.O. Box 970, Gulfport, MS 39502.