Bothwell Namesake
Tommie Dobie Bothwell was born to Thomas Bell Dobie and Annie Amy Nichol Dobie on June 16, 1912, on the Dobie Farm, which is now part of Cambridge Crossing. Thomas was born in Scotland and came to the United States, settling in Hutto, Texas. He then married Annie Amy, who had traveled from Scotland with her mother and three brothers. Tommie's two older sisters, Agnes Marguerite (Maggie) and Elizabeth Ann (Lizzie), were both born in Hutto. In 1910, Tommie's family moved to Celina, where they purchased the Dobie Farm. Thomas passed away in 1913 when Tommie was only eight months old, leaving her mother to manage and pay off the farm while raising three little girls.
Tommie owned the Dobie Farm with her two sisters following her mother's death in 1959. She married Samuel (Sam) Johnson Bothwell in 1935, and they had one daughter, Sammie Jean Bothwell Carey, born on June 28, 1937. Sam Bothwell passed away in 1942 when Sammie was only five years old. Following Sam's death, Ms. Tommie Bothwell returned to school to earn her master's degree in education. With both her bachelor's and master's degrees in education, Ms. Bothwell taught first and second grade, and later exclusively first grade as the school grew and allowed for more teachers to be added. Ms. Bothwell taught for 37 years and 35 of the years were spent at Celina Elementary School. Ms. Bothwell was an amazing, resilient individual who truly loved her time as a teacher and her life in Celina.
During her early days as a teacher, she would often tell her mother, Annie Dobie, "Mom, I have the most amazing group of children in my class this year," to which her mother would respond, "Oh Tommie, you say that every year!" She was always so excited about her wonderful "pupils," as she called her students, and that excitement never waned, even as the years passed.
Since Ms. Bothwell’s teaching career spanned 35 years in Celina, she taught many students in the community and often two generations within a family. Ms. Bothwell was a resident of Celina until her death at the age of 99 in September 2011 and served as an elder and treasurer at the First Presbyterian Church in Celina for many years. She was also involved in numerous community groups and activities. After she retired from teaching, it was common for her to visit members of the community who were suffering from health issues, and she often volunteered to sit at the bedside of a friend in the hospital, giving family members a chance to go home and rest.
Ms. Bothwell shopped locally within the Celina community, and many remember accompanying her on her errands and encountering former and current students, who always stopped to give Mrs. Bothwell a hug or a kind word. Tommie Dobie Bothwell was well respected and loved by all those she taught over the years and gave back to her community in many ways. She was dedicated to teaching and agriculture in the community of Celina.
Tommie Jean Dobie Bothwell was a beloved mother and mother-in-law to her daughter and son-in-law, Sammie Jean Bothwell Carey and John Carlton Carey. She was a loving grandmother to her grandchildren and their spouses, Jo Lynn Carey Ninemire and Steven Ross Ninemire, Laura Jean Carey Varner and Douglas Edwin Varner, and Mark Carlton Carey and Cathi Ann Collins Carey. She adored her great-grandchildren and would have loved their spouses, Wade Steven Ninemire and Barbara Ann (Annie) Ward Ninemire, Kelly Jo Ninemire Gatwood and Zackary Ryan Gatwood, Kristin Beth Varner Johnstone and Sean Thomas Johnstone, and Katie Lauren Varner. She would have greatly enjoyed and treasured her great-great-grandchildren, Margaret Graydon Ninemire, Katherine Tobias (Kit) Ninemire, Hattie Jo Gatwood, and Cooper Ryan Gatwood.
Naming of Bothwell Elementary
Celina ISD’s fourth elementary school has been named Tommie Dobie Bothwell Elementary School. Bothwell was a teacher in Celina ISD for 35 years, teaching numerous generations, according to Jill Roza, a member of the naming committee. Over 60 names were submitted through a form for nomination, many of these were repeated names, but one surpassed the rest — Tommie Dobie Bothwell — according to district officials. In the past for naming schools, the committee would take two names to the board, but this time the committee took just one name. “We felt like this name was perfect for that location,” Roza said. Bothwell was raised on Dobie Farm, which is in the master-planned Cambridge Crossing community, in which the elementary school is located, according to Roza. Bothwell graduated from Celina High School and went on to graduate college. She taught first and second grade within the building that is now the CISD administration building. Bothwell then went on to complete her master's degree. “She just didn’t let anything stop her,” Roza said. Bothwell came from a strong line of women, according to Roza. When Bothwell was 18 months old, her father passed away and her mother had to run and pay off the farm. Bothwell later married and her husband passed away about five years later, making her a young widow. She then came back to Celina with her young daughter and taught first and second grade. She taught the initial first grade class in the building that is now the administration building. “It’s just always a great pleasure to be able to name these buildings after people that have made their mark on our community and on our ISD,” Roza said.