In Memory of Fayetta Molby

Story of Fayetta Louise Roper Molby

By Rev. Robert C. Molby and daughters

An ancient writer recorded these words of Jesus: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going.” John 14:1-4

On October 8, 2013, Fayetta took John, that ancient writer, up on those words that Jesus said and went to the place that He had prepared for her.

Fayetta Louise Roper Molby was born May 12, 1929 in Enid, OK to Russell LeRoy Roper and Selma Ochs Roper. Two months later they moved to Great Bend, KS. After her brother Donald was born they moved to Hutchinson, KS where the rest of her siblings were born. She was the oldest of eight, six brothers and one sister.

She received her education through the school system at Hutchinson, graduating from the high school in 1947 and going on to take training to become a Licensed Practical Nurse in Grace Hospital School of Nursing, skills she put to use in the hospital at Beloit, KS. Later, after marriage and a family of her own, she attended the Night School at Central Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, KS graduating in 1959 with a degree in practical theology.

In addition Fayetta served as a secretary in the Solomon Valley Baptist Parish and in the public schools of Hays and Kansas City, KS as well as in the Region office of the American Baptist Churches of NE.

At an early age, around nine years old, she accepted Christ and publicly declared Him as her Savior through the United Brethren Church in Hutchinson. Later her family became involved in the Westside Baptist Church where, under the encouragement of Mrs. Kidd, she began to play the piano and sing in special numbers. Her pastor, Rev. Lonnie Smith, conducted revival meetings that were popular in that were popular in that day and invited her to participate in the musical part of those meetings.  She played the piano and sang in trios not only in those church meetings but also on the radio when her pastor was doing a broadcast.  All of that while also getting her schooling and eventually working at Grace Hospital.

Being the oldest of eight she found herself becoming a second mother to the youngest four of her siblings.  As one of them put it, "Mom was either sick or having another baby so Fayetta became our second mother."  Ken, a brother who is now in Ghana, Africa; called and told her that one every important memory for him was that she helped him understand who Jesus is when he was 8 years of age and walked with him down the aisle to make his profession of faith.  She not only cared for their physical needs but was concerned about their spiritual needs.

Fayetta met Bob Molby who was chosen to lead a Bible Study group at a home in Hutchinson.  She was the pianist for the group.  Bob was a first year student at nearby Sterling College.  They developed a friendship as they worked together.  When he conducted a revival service at the First Baptist Church in Nickerson, KS he invited her to be his pianist and she accepted. Because she worked the night shift at the hospital he saw to it that she got to work on time using a car that his pastor, Rev. Howard Sorensen, provided.  Everyone knew that these two were destined to be together and on August 18, 1950, they were united in marriage at the First Baptist Church in Raymond, KS where Bob had become the pastor.

Fayetta and Bob were partners for all 63 years plus of their marriage.  She enjoyed doing pastoral visitations with him and serving with him as he worked with churches not only as a pastor but in retirement as an interim pastor.  When you thought of her, you thought of him, and when you thought of him, you thought of her.  She went with him to General Board meetings of the ABC/USA when he served in that capacity.  God richly blessed their partnership.  She loved various groups to which they belonged.  There was the Retired Clergy group, the people with whom they camped at Camp Moses Merrill, the faith family at Sunset Hills Baptist Church and the friends they made while doing Interim Ministry with many churches.  Besides family these were their great support groups.  Fayetta loved being a pastor's wife and mother.  She participated in the ministry of her husband and was always there for him and her children: Kathleen Jane, Nathan Paul, Ruth Anne and Rachelle Colleen or "Shelly" as she is known.  When the children married and had children Fayetta became a loving grandmother to the six best grandchildren in the world: Robert, Ashley, Lucas, Nathan, Andrea, and Erin.  Andrea is married to Eric Catron - so now there are seven.

A brother and a son preceded her in death. Survivors include her husband Bob of the home in Elkhorn, NE; daughters Kathy Cain (David) of San Antonio, TX; Ruth Steele (Mark) of Omaha, NE; Shelly Marx (David) of Bonner Springs, KS, siblings Gerald, Marion, Ken, Russell, Carol and Robert; many nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends who will carry on her memory forever.

The story of Fayetta and Bob's life together is a wonderful love story.  A far better story than anything written by man, it's a genuine tale of what love for one another when combined with a mutual love of our Lord can be.  Sad to say far too few of us in my generation will ever be able to match the devotion and dedication to each other and to God that Bob and Fayetta shared in their many wonderful years together.  Through the good and the bad, through the fair sailing and the rough seas, they stayed together and loved each other and their God.  Praise be to God for the example that the Molby's have provided for so very many.  God Bless and protect them both.

In His Constant Care and Grace,
Roy