Edith Murriel Powell Robinson, was born on February 1, 1935 to Luther and Ruby Ethel (Hatfield) Powell at their home in Fryatt, Arkansas. She departed this life on June 17, 2019 in the home of her Donna & Don Brooker (her daughter and son-in-law) in Gainesville, Florida at the age of 84 years.
She was united in marriage to Joseph T. Robinson on August 26, 1954, at the Thayer Church of Christ, Missouri. They were married 40 years until his death in 1994.
She was the first in her immediate family to graduate High School (Mammoth Spring) and enjoyed going to school. Shortly after graduation, she married Joe T. and they headed off for their first home together in Altus, Oklahoma. During his military career, Edith joined him while training at a variety of bases. They were stationed in four different states and abroad. At each location, Edith made their one-bedroom apartment, or their trailer, or their basement apartment, or their house, a home. While she supported “the mission” of the military through her support of her husband, Edith was happy to retire to their hometown in 1972, living in the home they built together.
In each place they lived, she quickly got involved with the church home, made friends and kept these friends throughout the years. She enjoyed Ladies’ Bible classes and the special connection this allowed her to have with her Sisters in Christ. She enjoyed teaching children’s Bible classes and serving others for the Lord. She also volunteered in clubs and schools where daughter Donna attended. In 1978, she welcomed Aki (Nakajima) Takatsu into their home as a Japanese exchange student, and has kept in touch with her these past 41 years, and was able to meet Aki’s older son, Nobu, in 2015 during a special visit to her in Florida!
As a young adult, she loved her farm animals and was pleased to be able to have cattle, and a garden, on her return to Mammoth Spring. She raised cattle for 16 years, had a number of dogs and cats. She kept feeders full of nectar for hummingbirds (and then sat and watched their antics).
She experienced a difficult time during the early 1990’s, losing her mother, then her dad, and finally her husband. She clung to the Lord, gaining strength from His word, and many times quoted Philippians 4:13. She kept her home in Mammoth Spring for 15 years with much support from John (David) Robinson, her brother in law, and many caring friends. She kept busy with her lawn, home, and firing up her furnace in the winter, until one January she decided she couldn’t do it anymore. She then moved to Gainesville, FL in 2009 and lived independently at North Florida Retirement Village in Gainesville, FL where she continued to meet new friends, and was involved in many activities, especially a daily walk, outside whenever possible! Again, she enjoyed her new church family, and Ladies Bible Class, staying active due to the loving offers of transportation by her brothers and sisters in Christ.
In late May, due to the need for round the clock care, Edith moved to live with Donna and Don. Grandson Wess Brooker and Heath (Corfield), dropped everything they were doing to come to Gainesville. They emptied and stored items from a guest bedroom and moved necessary items from Grandmamas apartment to make this room her new home.
While 2019 was a difficult year for Edith due to the need for and struggle with oxygen, the anticipation and arrival of a great grandchild was a blessing. She was anxious to send off a quilt she had made to welcome her first great Grandchild, and was finally at peace knowing it was sent to Grandson Michael Brooker and wife Lindsay. From her room in Florida she was excited to meet Charlotte Reagan Brooker via FaceTime thanks to technology.
In a short period of time (20 days), she was blessed to have a care giver during the workweek who is a sister in Christ. Joyce Assan made sure that Edith was able to listen to her favorite songs (gospel a cappella), and many times sang to her from a hymnal. Edith was always comforted when people said they were praying for her.
Edith taught her family to love the Lord and to bring their cares to Him in prayer. Her faith will be remembered by her family: Donna, Don, Wess, Heath, Michael, and Lindsay, and will be shared with Charlotte. While Edith loved her brother and her husband’s siblings, many times she mentioned that her sisters-in-law were more like sisters to her: Marlene (John) Robinson and Gladys (Elmer) Powell.
She was thankful for and felt blessed by the relationship she shared with her nieces (Shirley, Sue, Gail, Kathryn and their families), nephews, many cousins, and friends.
A Funeral Service will be held on Sunday, June 23, 2019 at 2:00 PM at the Carter Funeral Home Chapel in Thayer, Missouri with Jeff Lancaster officiating.
The family will receive friends on Sunday, June 23, 2019 from 1:00 PM until the service time.
Interment will be held at the Thayer Cemetery following the services.
In lieu of flowers, the family would like donations to be made in Edith Robinson’s memory to the Robinson Endowment Scholarship Fund to Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas. Donations can be made and left at Carter Funeral Home in Thayer, Missouri or be made out to:
Harding University
Attn: Dan Campbell
915 East Market Avenue HU 12238
Searcy, AR 72139
Please note that it is for the “Robinson Endowment”
Arrangements are under the direction of Carter Funeral Home, Inc. in Thayer, Missouri.