Barbara (Bobbie) June Smaystrla passed away on June 27th at Sutter Hospital in Davis with family by her side. After many years battling COPD and avoiding COVID-19, she tested positive in the morning and passed away by the evening. The staff at Sutter Davis knew her well due to her frequent visits, insistence on talking through breathing treatments and requests for beer during her stay.
Bobbie was born to William (Herman) and Billy June Breece in Modesto, California on May 13th, 1943. She was the second of three sisters who enjoyed a childhood full of camping trips and frequent moves. In 1958 Bobbie and her siblings returned home from school to a packed station wagon and headed north to Alaska. Their mother insisted they drive there, as she was tired of waiting for her husband to return from a months-long work trip. To everyone's surprise, they survived the two-week drive and quickly settled into life in Anchorage, Alaska.
Shortly after arriving, Bobbie’s father introduced her to the love of her life, Edmond (Johnny) John Smaystrla. After a few weeks of flirty looks, Barbara told him she’d cook for him if he married her, to which he replied, “Is that a promise?”, and a few months later they were married. There in Alaska, Bobbie gave birth to her first son, Terry. They made the move back to California where they welcomed their daughter Catherine and shortly after, their son John. She was a young mother; her children were her whole life and she loved each of them unconditionally.
The family settled down in Fairfield, California where she was a phenomenal homemaker, mother and wife. She tolerated the unrelenting practical jokes from her husband and boys. She found many lizards while making beds and the occasional snake draped over a door handle. They spent their evenings drinking with friends, their summers camping and their weekends going for long drives to nowhere in particular. They were big country music fans and did their best to attend every Merle Haggard concert they could drive to.
As their children became young adults, Bobbie and Johnny opened “Here We Tan”, a tanning salon in Vacaville. They worked there with their daughter and served countless treasured clients, many of whom became friends.
Bobbie and Johnny welcomed their first grandchild into the world in 1983, with the arrival of Nicholas Smaystrla. The next thirteen years would bring them four more grandchildren to love and adore; Kate Jones, Mike Smaystrla, Fallon Rosa-Wilson, and Acarey Rosa-Hadley.
Bobbie spent her time enjoying the company of friends and family. She balanced her time between watching her beloved Oakland A’s, Dallas Cowboys, and Sacramento Kings, playing cards with friends and calling her children several times a day just to ask what they were up to — something that drove them crazy, but that they will miss dearly.
Her later years were spent moving a little more slowly due to her COPD and caring for her aging husband. Together they welcomed five great-grandchildren and one great-grandpuppy. Bobbie is preceded in death by many. She had a crowd waiting for her on the other side, including her parents, dear husband and two sisters. She is survived by her children Terry Smaystrla, daughter-in-law Wendy Smaystrla, her daughter Catherine Rosa, son-in-law Jose Rosa, and her son John Smaystrla, who did a phenomenal job living with and caring for her after Johnny passed away.
All are welcome to gather in celebration and remembrance of Barbara Smaystrla on July 20th at 10am. Mass will be held at Holy Rosary Church Parish Community Center, located at 575 California Street in Woodland, California. Her service will be followed by a private Rite of Committal in Winters, California.
