Bobby Joe Mann

Bobby J. Mann age 77, of Meridian, passed away on June 28, 2021 in Waco, Texas.

Graveside funeral services will be at 1 P.M., Friday, July 2, 2021 at Woodland Park Cemetery in Mineral Wells. Family and friends will officiate. Family will receive visitors from 5 P.M. until 7 P.M., Thursday, July 1, 2021 at Lawson Funeral Home. Honorary Pallbearers will be Ed Nichols, Dustin Sykora, Robert Dyer, Richard Ringo, Rance Norton, Doug Sanford and Ken Kessler.

He was the son of Wm. B. (Bob) Mann and Marie  Geneva Hudson (Née Elder) on August 31, 1943, in Littlefield, TX, and grew up in Mineral Wells, TX, where he soon learned the skills of raising livestock, which also became his passion, and funded his advanced education.   This passion led to his longtime association and previous owner of The Mineral Wells Stockyards and became a member of the Palo Pinto Sherriff’s Posse in 1983.

After graduating high school in Mineral Wells in 1961, Bobby Joe went on to attend the University of Texas (Austin) to earn a B.B.A. in 1965, and then the University of Texas School of Law to earn his law degree (J.D.) in 1968.  Bobby Joe moved back to Mineral Wells and quickly established his own successful law firm.  He ran for State Representative (53rd District) and was unanimously voted as Palo Pinto County Attorney.  Bobby Joe has successfully practiced law in Fort Worth, TX, Corpus Christi, TX, and Meridian TX, and argued cases before the Supreme Court of Texas.  He began specializing in Mediation Arbitration 28 years ago, while practicing in Ft. Worth.  He was a member of the Tarrant County Bar Association and Century Club, as well a member of the Association of Attorney-Mediators, Inc. Bobby Joe has mediated over 4,000 lawsuits and authored a book on that subject in 2005 His book is being used to mentor mediators today.

Bobby Joe married Dorothea (Dot) Maye Mann (Née Cline) in 1974, whom he lost to Alzheimer’s in 2010.  During this time, he and Dot moved to Meridian, TX where Dot received specialized care for her disease.  He continued to live in Meridian after her passing, where he established very close friendships, including his dear friend, Rance Norton.

Bobby Joe is survived by his Daughter Dee Nichols, and her husband Ed Nichols (both of Meridian, TX), his son Darrell Burns and his husband Robert Dyer (both of Frisco, TX), granddaughter Fallin Sykora and her husband Dustin Sykora, along with their three children, Bobby Joe’s three great-grandchildren – whom he adored – Loclyn, Ledger, and Landree (all of McGregor, TX).

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to:

Alzheimer's Association of America
Please visit their website at https://act.alz.org/donate

Arrangements were entrusted to Lawson Funeral Home, Meridian, Texas 254-435-2792.