TORRINGTON – Funeral services for Iona Mae Robinett, 86, will be 2 p.m. today (Friday, Nov. 1, 2019) at the Colyer Funeral Home Chapel with Todd Williams officiating. Burial will follow in the Valley View Cemetery. Memorials may be given to either the Torrington Fire Department or the Torrington Ambulance Service. Visitation was Thursday and the casket will be closed at the service. Arrangements are by the Colyer Funeral Home and condolences may be sent to www.colyerfuneralhome.com.
Iona Mae (Gheen) Robinett went to rest in the eternal arms of Jesus on Oct. 28, 2019. Iona’s life journey began June 14, 1933. Born to Thomas and Bessie (Marick) Gheen, she was the youngest of three children including her brothers Loris and Dale Gheen. The family lived north of Fort Laramie in the Kaspiere Community. Iona’s childhood companion was her dog, “Mickey,” who was a gift from her grandfather Marick when she was five.
Iona attended Red Cloud and Scott Center schools for her first nine years. To attend high school in Torrington she earned her room and board by cleaning and babysitting for several families while going to school.
She graduated in May 1951 and a month later married Max Robinett, her husband of 68 years, on June 20, 1951. She and Max (whom she fondly called “Mike”) together lived and worked on the farm/ranch operation in the Moore Springs community west of Jay Em. She ran the household, consisting of four children, Gary, Linda, Susan and Sally, as well as milked and fed cows, baled hay, drove tractors and harvest trucks and any other farm job that needed to be done. She taught her children to work hard, laugh often, be responsible and appreciate the simple things in life. After a day of working on the farm, Iona would enjoy a beautiful sunset and sit on the front step playing her harmonica. Her favorite season was springtime, she loved Jim Reeves, Slim Whitman and Don Helms music. In 2003 Max and Iona retired and moved to Torrington.
Iona once said her greatest accomplishment was “marrying Mike” and having four great kids and was grateful for all of the extended family. She was a very private person, preferring her family and special close friends rather than social events. She did enjoy being a member of both the Kaspiere and Jay Em Women’s Clubs through the years. She served as secretary for the Jay Em Club for several years and always enjoyed participating in making the Club Booth for the county fair every year.
Iona was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers; and her father-in-law, Willard Robinett, who was so very special to her. She is survived by her husband Max; son Gary; daughters Linda (Ken) Keener, Susan (Mike) Neilly and Sally (Joe) Cole; niece Judy (Ernie) Buhr; nephews Jim (Marilyn) and Ed (Lisa) Gheen; son-in-law Doug Herdt; nine grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.
