Bernie G. Cabra Sr.

Bernie Cabra, 71, passed away Monday, July 7, 2008 at his son’s home in Higbee, Mo. Services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday, July 11 at McWilliams Funeral Home in Gallatin. Family visitation will be held at 12 Noon to 1:30 prior to the service. Friends may call after 11 a.m. Thursday. Memorials contributions may be made to the Gallatin Senior Citizen Center or Daviess County Library.

Bernie was born March 28, 1937 to Arthur and Edna (Guinn) Cabra in Hornbeck, La. He attended school in the Hornbeck area. During that time he worked in the oil fields and numerous other jobs. Bernie enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served his country for two years. After leaving the Navy he moved to the Kansas City area, where he worked at Bob’s Grocery for a short period of time. In 1957 Bernie began his career with the Illinois Central Gulf Railroad as an engineer retiring in 1979. He was at one time the youngest railroad engineer in the United States. It was a career of 25 years that spanned more railroad stories that he could tell in one sitting.

Bernie was united in marriage to Bobbie Smith, Feb. 15, 1978 in Slater, Mo. The couple lived there for a year before moving to a farm east of Gallatin in 1979. In 1981 Bernie started Cabra Construction, a family owned business, retiring in 2001 after 20 years of dedicated service to his customers.

Bernie was a devoted member of the Gallatin Assembly of God Church, Masons, Shriner’s and Eastern Star. He also was a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. Bernie enjoyed hunting, fishing, and gardening and loved to plant flowers. He loved to visit and reminisce with family and friends, and never met a stranger.

Bernie never shied away from hard work and lived his life with great spirit and energy. He worked hard to give his family a future and the confidence needed to go out into the world to succeed. He was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather and will be sadly missed by his family and friends.

Bernie was preceded in death by his father, Arthur Cabra and step-father, Clarence Brock and brother; G. Wayne Cabra.

Survivors include his wife, Bobbie Cabra of the home; sons, Steven Cabra and wife Karen of St. Martinville, La., John Holman, and wife Ana of Rio Rico, Az., Michael Cabra and wife Christy of Higbee, Mo., Michael Holman of Cameron, Mo., Bernie Cabra Jr. and wife Alex of Gallatin; daughters, Sheila Curtis and husband Lawrence of Gallatin, and Bobbie Lynn and Preston Watkins of Cowgill; mother, Edna Brock of Kansas City, Mo.; three sisters, Patsy Lloyd of North Carolina, Sue Huntoon and husband Ivan of Mo, and Rita Weighill and husband Mike of Mo.; two brothers, Thomas Cabra and wife Zandy of Texas, and Lloyd Cabra and wife Shari of Mo.; nineteen grandchildren; and three great grandchildren.

On line obituaries at www.mcwilliamsfuneralhomes.com.