ROBINSON, Colleen

The White Mountain Independent, Show Low, Arizona ~ 02/21/2006 Colleen Robinson, 72, died Saturday, Feb. 18, 2006 at Navapache Regional Medical Center in Show Low. She was born in the old Whiteriver Hospital on the Ft. Apache Indian Reservation where her father was a stockman with the White Mountain Apache Tribe. She was raised in Cibecue most of her early youth. They also lived at Ft. McDowell and Sacaton. Colleen attended elementary on the reservation and started high school in Casa Grande and graduated from Snowflake Union High School after the family moved back up to Show Low. In 1951, she married Billy Robinson in Show Low. They lived in McNary for several years where Billy worked at the sawmill. They returned to Show Low in 1959. Colleen worked as a nurses aid at the old McNary Hospital and then at the Josephine Goldwater Hospital, the first hospital in Show Low. Colleen later became a surgical technician at Navapache Hospital where she worked until she retired. Colleen was a life long member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was happy to serve in various capacities. She especially enjoyed teaching youth the principles of the gospel. She also enjoyed doing genealogy and family history work and attending the temple. Colleen especially loved being with her family and she enjoyed the White Mountains. Colleen is survived by her husband of 55 years, Billy H. Robinson of Show Low; sons, Colen Chris (Carrie LaJon) Robinson of Tucson, David (Dana) Robinson of Show Low and John (Swanie) Robinson of Show Low; three daughters, Nella (Warner) Walton of Snowflake, JoEllen (Wayne) Cooper of Show Low and Melissa Jones of McLain, Texas; 17 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren; three sisters, Noma Weber of Calif., June Morgan of Salinas, Calif. and Flora Forqueran of San Diego, Calif. She was preceded in death by an infant daughter, brother, Boyce, and three sisters, Grace, Myrna and Lucille. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 23 at the Show Low Stake Center of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A viewing will be held from 6-8: p.m. Wednesday evening at Owens Mortuary in Show Low and one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be in the Show Low Cemetery. For those who have special memories and would like to send private condolences or sign an online guest book, visit www.owensmortuary.com.