Imogene L. "Jean" Robison (Smith)

Imogene L. “Jean” Robison, 96, of Blue Springs, Missouri, passed away Friday, November 11, 2022. She was an active member of the South Crysler Restoration Branch.

Jean was one of four children born to Ruppert and Effie (Allen) Smith, on December 27, 1925, in Center Point, Oklahoma. Jean spent her growing up years in Oklahoma and Bisbee, Arizona. After high school, she moved to Omaha, Nebraska, in an effort to get a job at the local airplane plant near there, where they were hiring. She did similar work on the bomber planes, much like the fictional character “Rosie the Riveter”. This was a very historic time in our nation with World War II going on. It was about this time that she met the love of her life, Harold “Skip” Robison. Skip was a training pilot in the U.S. Air Force. They were married on April 17, 1946.

After Skip’s military service was complete, he and Jean moved to Des Moines, IA, to be near her family, who had relocated there from Arizona. They started their family in Des Moines, where daughters, Pam (Maybee) and Penny (Mackison) were born.

Skip’s occupation afforded them the opportunity to live in several places, as he accepted job transfers, but it wasn’t until they lived in Minneapolis, MN, that Jean had her own personal contact with the RLDS Church. Jean’s parents actually had contact with the church while in Bisbee, AZ and eventually joined there. She was too young to be baptized at that time. She actually joined the church in Minneapolis. She began to grow in her faith there and took every opportunity she could to serve and grow in her knowledge of the scriptures. She loved to read and study.

After four years in Minneapolis, the family moved to Peoria, Illinois, with Skip’s job. It was here that Jean had opportunities to immerse herself in service, taking on new tasks at both the branch and district levels, i.e. Congregational and District Women’s Leader, Reunion Kitchen Supervisor, District Youth Leader (with Skip), planning youth caravans, etc. It was at this time, as a part of the Galesburg, IL District that Skip, Pam and Penny were baptized and joined the church. It wasn’t long after, that Skip was called to the office of Elder.

Jean and Skip took job transfers to Champaign, IL, Green Bay, Wisconsin and Anniston, Alabama, prior to Skip’s retirement, when they chose to “gather in” to the Center Place. They served the Lord wherever He sent them and made a great team. She was serving right up until her passing. Just earlier this year, she organized a widow/divorcee/single women’s group for fellowship and ministry to single women within her congregation at South Crysler Restoration Branch.

Jean loved the Lord and was always willing to bear her testimony of God’s goodness in her life. She will be greatly missed, but leaves a legacy for us all, to be about our Father’s business, in promoting His Kingdom and being bold in our testimony of Him.

Jean was preceded in death by her daughter, Penny Mackison and her husband of 71 years, Skip Robison. She is survived by her daughter Pam Maybee (Jack); granddaughters; Wendy Davies (Shannon), Misty Floersch, Ashley Bosworth (Brandon), and Kelli Annin (Matthew); 9 Great Grandchildren; Zachery Annin, Luke Annin, Brycen Mackison (Kayla), Aubrey Davies, Megan Davies, Addyson Davies, Ethan Floersch, Colton Floersch and Mason Floersch; 3 Great-Great Grandchildren; Claire, Palmer and Charlie Mackison.

The family will be having a private graveside burial at Oak Ridge Memory Gardens, Independence, Missouri. A Celebration of Life Service will take place on Saturday, January 21, 2023, 11:00 AM, at South Crysler Restoration Branch congregation, where Jean was an active member The church address is 16101 Salisbury Rd., Independence, MO 64050. A light reception lunch will follow the service. Please join Jean’s family, in celebrating her life.

Donations may be made in her name to the South Crysler Restoration Branch, 16101 E. Salisbury Rd., Independence, MO 64050. Online condolences may be expressed at www.speaks chapel.com.