JAMES YOUNG MOBLEY's Obituary
James Young Mobley, 91, passed away peacefully in his sleep on September 16, 2015, just three weeks shy of the 70th anniversary of his wedding to his beloved wife, Fran, who knew him affectionately as “Mobe” and who now mourns his passing.
Jim was born in Wheeling, West Virginia, son to the late Ernest Clement and Mary Catherine, and brother to the late George Mobley, Jean Mobley Mason and Mary Evelyn Peard. In Jim’s early teens, the family moved to Baltimore where he graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a degree in Political Science. It was there he met his soon-to-be bride, Frances Catherine Smith with whom he would share a 70 year life’s journey, moving from Baltimore to Key Biscayne, Florida in the late 1960’s. Together, Jim and Fran would lovingly raise ten children who survive him: Carol, Chris, Cindy, Carter, Clark, Cary, Chuck, Cliff, Cathy, and Kemp. In providing for his growing family, Jim epitomized the self-made man: In a career that spanned nearly his entire adult life, he ran businesses ranging from a small drug store chain to a thriving staffing company, all the while, commanding and returning passion and respect for his employees. Despite the rigors of running businesses, Jim always found time for his children, from throwing a ball or playing ping-pong at the beach to sharing his passion for jazz music and political discourse at home. And with Fran, riding the waves of the ups and downs shared in any 70-year relationship, their mutual devotion remained steadfast to the journey’s end.
In addition to Fran and his children, Jim is survived by their children’s spouses, Nahira, Lorraine, Katrina, Suzanne, Chris, and Claudia; their grandchildren Karen, Michael, Nina, Seth, Sonya, Amalia, Johnny, Carmen, Greg, Jessica, Holly, Adriana, Malachi, Shaya, Joseph, Julia, Yaret, and James; and eleven great grandchildren.
A gathering of family and friends will be held Friday, September 25th, at Van Orsdel Family Funeral Home (4600 SW 8th St., Coral Gables, FL). A viewing will be from 6-9 PM in the chapel, with a service to begin at 7:30 PM.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Camillus House of Miami, Florida ( https://asoft4101.accrisoft.com/camillus/index.php?src=forms&id=donations_In_Memory ) Checks should be made payable to Camillus House and mailed to P.O. Box 11829, Miami, FL 33101-1829
To make a Donation via Telephone, please call 305.374.1065, ext. 219.
What’s your fondest memory of JAMES?
What’s a lesson you learned from JAMES?
Share a story where JAMES's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with JAMES you’ll never forget.
How did JAMES make you smile?