Verna Marie Robinson

Verna Marie (Horning) Robinson, 87, passed away from Alzheimers disease Saturday, August 27, 2016 in her home, surrounded by her husband, children and grandchildren. She was born October 6, 1928. She was the third of four children born to Francis Harry Arley Horning and Alma Antoinette (Butterfield) Horning. Verna had a very hard childhood; she was only seven years old when her father suddenly passed away. A year later her familys home burnt down, leaving them with nothing but the clothes on their backs. Her widowed grandmother, Annie Butterfield happily took all of them in. They lived with her for a year and then Vernas mother met and married Leland Raymond. With her brother Edwin, sister, Doris, youngest brother, William and new stepbrother, Wayne, they moved into a house on Taft Street. Times were lean; at the age of nine Verna started working after school and Saturdays stocking shelves at a small grocery store on Taft Street called Camrons. Verna had many wonderful memories of those days with her siblings, all the neighbor children and friends she had during most of her life. In the last few months of her life, she spent a lot of time reliving those special memories. Verna attended several schools in Pocatello and was a member of the LDS Church, attending the old Fifth Ward on McKinley Street. At the age of fifteen, she met and started dating a young man named Gene Seal. However, her stepfather greatly disapproved of him and she was forbidden to see him. They managed to sneak some time together occasionally with the help of Vernas sister Doris. When she was sixteen, her stepfather went into the hospital for back surgery. While he was hospitalized, Verna and Gene decided to get married. Vernas mother gave her consent and witnessed their vows at the Pocatello Courthouse, May 5, 1945. Thirteen months later their daughter, Jeanne was born, two years later their son, Eddie was born. When Eddie was about four months old they moved to Downey, California where Gene had a job with Union Pacific Railroad. The marriage only lasted for four years. Verna moved back Pocatello with her two children. Verna was a single parent for many years, working at Challenge Creamy to support her children. She had a very strong work ethic and worked a lot of overtime without complaint to make sure that her children always had the best of everything. Her brother Wayne introduced her to a man also named Wayne (Wayne Robinson). They dated for a few months and were married July 21, 1962. With that marriage she gained her second son, Gregory. A blended marriage of a sixteen, fourteen and five year old began. Verna stayed home to help raise Greg. Verna and Wayne bought a house on 15 th Street near ISU and lived there until Greg finished Middle School. During that time Jeanne married her husband, Randy and Eddie married his wife, Candy. Wayne then built a beautiful home on Philbin Road with Verna pounding nails beside him. Eddie and Candy gave them their first two grandchildren and Verna was so happy to babysit them until they were old enough to attend school. Verna and Wayne over the years had the privilege of taking care of most of their grand and great-grandchildren. She also loved watching her brother, Lelands two children, Trent and Teresa. Over the next few years Verna and Wayne were blessed with five more grandchildren; Jeannes two children, Stefanie and Ryan and Gregs three children, Mandy, Casie and Tabitha. They sold their house on Philbin Road and bought a house on Mohawk. Verna eventually went to work for Gem State Distributors, working there until she retired. While living there, Verna and Wayne were sealed for all eternity, July 20, 1990 in the Idaho Falls Temple, followed by a surprise party with their family. Verna didnt talk much about her religious beliefs but she loved God, the church, being the church librarian and especially her visiting teaching. Verna and Wayne loved to dance at church dances and were amazing Jitterbug dancers. As her Alzheimers worsened she stopped attending church but she and Wayne prayed daily and their favorite hymn was "I Stand All Amazed". While still living on Mohawk, Wayne started Robinson Construction Company and decided to work a few more years before retiring. They began to worry about their great- grandchildren starting preschool, so they bought the Mother Goose Preschool. Their granddaughter, Tracey Smith, managed it for them. They lived there for ten years, until Verna began to have health problems, so they sold it to Tracey and moved to their current address. Verna was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and cousin. Everyone that knew her loved her. She was a beautiful woman inside as well as outside. She was the person we all turned to in good times and bad times; she was the person we called just to talk. Verna and Wayne had an open-door policy at their house. If anyone needed a place to stay, a place to feel loved, a place to go to for advice, or for financial help, it was their home. They hosted every Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter dinner for the family for many years. Vernas fried fish and Waynes Dutch oven potatoes were something we all looked forward to. We have a very blended family but each and every one of us was loved equally. Vernas eyes lit up every time one of her children or grandchildren entered the room, she was proud of all of us. In Verna and Waynes younger years, they bowled, belonged to a snowmobile club and went camping and fishing. She didnt have many hobbies but she loved cleaning her house and working in their yard. They were always beautiful. Verna was exceptionally close to her mother and her sister, Doris. They talked daily and she never stopped missing them after they both passed away. In her final weeks, she had many special visits and visions of them and her grandmother Butterfield. We choose to believe that they were there to help her on her Journey. Our family will never be able to adequately express the love, admiration and respect we have for Wayne. He has been an inspiration to all of us. The love, devotion and patience he has given Verna over the last few years, as Alzheimers slowly took her away from us, has simply been amazing. He truly was and will always be the love of her life. We thank Verna for all the things shes been to us. Our guardian and our guide; for truths she has so gently taught, for all the tears shes dried, for faith and understanding. We owe you more than thanks, more than words can ever say. We love you with all of our broken hearts and will miss you forever. Thank you for the wonderful legacy you have left us. The family would like to express their deep appreciation to Dr. Kelli Christensen for the exceptional care she has given Verna over the last eight years. We cant say enough about the wonderful care Heritage Hospice has given Verna. A special thanks to Dr. LaVonne Mills for her compassion. We have fallen in love with Mary Hill, Vernas nurse, we couldnt have asked for a better person to help in these last weeks. Thanks to Abby, the sweet young lady who came in to bathe and take care of Vernas personal needs. We would also like to thank Tina Raatz, Vernas hair dresser for many years. Once Verna was unable to go to her salon, she graciously came to Vernas house. We appreciate Colonial Funeral Home for making this difficult time easier for us. A special thanks to Jared Clinger for being such a kind and gentle soul. Verna is survived by her husband, Wayne; daughter, Jeanne Harris (Randy); son, Eddie Seal (Candy), son Greg Robinson (Chris); grandchildren, Stefanie Mahoney (Chris), Ryan Harris, Tracey Smith (Curtis), Eddie Seal Jr., Mandy Babb (Ben), Casie Poppleton (Nick,) Tabitha Pasley (Adam); fifteen great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren; brothers, Wayne Raymond (Barbara), Leland Raymond (Cindy) and Gary Raymond; two special nieces, Judy Campbell and Janet Lish; and her favorite cousin, Vessie Pearson, whom she loved like a brother. She is preceded in death by her father, Frank Horning; step-father, Leland Raymond Sr.; mother, Alma Raymond; brothers, Ronnie Horning, Edwin Horning and William Horning; sister, Doris Lish; brother-in-law, Herman Lish; nephew, Steven Lish; and great- granddaughter, Cassidy Babb. A viewing will be held on Saturday, September 3, 2016 at 10 am, for family and close friends, at Colonial Funeral Home, 2005 S. 4th Ave. Pocatello, with a graveside service to follow, starting at 11 am, at Mountain View Cemetery, 1520 S. 5th Ave. Pocatello, ID 83204. 52 East, Row 1, Space 9.

Visitation

09/03/2016 10:00

11:00:00

United Church of Christ

309 Garfield

Pocatello

Idaho

83201



Graveside Service

09/03/2016 11:00



Colonial Chapel

2005 S 4th Ave

Pocatello

Idaho

83201