Lawrence "Rob" Robison

Obituary

Lawrence "Rob" Robison

April 17, 1940 – July 25, 2023

Lawrence "Rob" Robison, 83-year-old Hyattville resident, passed away in his sleep on July 25, 2023 at the Washakie Medical Center in Worland, Wyoming.

He was born on April 17, 1940 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Alice Hamilton and later adopted by Harry Edward Robison. Growing up, Rob spent his childhood on the Panama Canal while his dad was stationed there with the United States Army. Later he went to Garfield High School in Seattle, WA the same school that Jimi Hendrix later attended. Rob and his siblings had a difficult home life while his father served his military duty overseas, so he dropped out of the 10th grade, lied about his age, and joined the Army National Guard to have clean new clothes and help care for his younger brother and sister. The Army National Guard figured out his real age, and he was honorably discharged. But by that time, he was old enough to legitimately join the US Coast Guard. While in USCG service, he was advised he had a hole in his heart and would only live for a few more years. He was honorably/medically discharged from service and decided to make the most of his remaining few years.

He took up racing cars, motorcycles, and at one time - an earth mover. He did various farm and mechanic work in California before moving to Junction City, Kansas to live with his Dad and figure out his next steps. With his father's encouragement - and after realizing that he would survive his mid-20s, Rob completed his GED and became a Master Electrician, working as the city electrician in Junction City, KS.

It was there that he met and later married Carole Anne Sheetz on October 28, 1967. Daughter, Kristi joined them in 1969 followed by son, Keith in 1971.

In 1972, Rob had an opportunity to join the early cable TV industry and was assigned to different regional hubs to secure licensing and permitting, build Community Antenna Television (CATV) towers, and lead teams to string the cable lines to towns and homes. The family was relocated from Junction City, KS to Yoakum, TX, Hutchinson, KS, and eventually Lake Charles, LA. In 1981, he left cable TV and joined Lake Charles Memorial Hospital (LCMH). While there, he became the engineering and environmental services manager and greatly enjoyed working with the architects on many of the hospital remodels. He enjoyed that so much that he designed the new Lake Charles Memorial Women and Children's Hospital, which would later be where his first grandchild joined the family.

Rob retired from Lake Charles Memorial Hospital in 2003, and moved with Carole to Cherokee Village, Arkansas where they created their perfect retirement retreat. His beloved Carole passed away on October 9, 2014, and Rob was very lost without her. Two strokes within a six-month period forced his move to Hyattville, Wyoming with his daughter, Kristi in June of 2015. His strokes did not have a long-lasting physical impact, but they did leave him with the innocence and enthusiasm of a child for learning and experiencing new things. He still retained his childhood memories, the joy of raising children, and his professional accomplishments.

He cherished the community of Hyattville and living in his own "nature preserve and fountain of youth", where he was routinely impressed at the independence and ingenuity of his neighbors. Here, he was embraced by the community and enjoyed helping people out on projects like brush burns and painting. In his eight years in Hyattville, he learned about ranching, branding, and feeding bum lambs. Neighbors allowed him to ride along with them to the library (he was a voracious reader of crime novels) or in the big rig during sugar beet harvest season, and his favorite field trip was to the area dump. He loved living in the Bighorn Mountains.

At home, he could often be found enjoying the fresh air from the deck when he wasn't taking the red and blue heelers, Sage and Ziggy, for a walk. If the weather didn't cooperate, he would be inside enjoying a good book, working on a jigsaw puzzle or finding ways he could contribute around the house. He loved helping at the Hyattville Community Center and often came up with personal nicknames for friends and acquaintances.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a half brother, Harry Robison.

Survivors include his children, Kristi Robison of Hyattville; Keith and his wife, Millie Robison of Tomball, TX; grandchildren, Casey and Kyle Robison of Tomball; sister, Darlynn Robison and niece, Paula and nephew, Robert of Snohomish, WA; former sister-in-law, Mona and daughter, Mary Robison of Missouri.

Cremation has taken place, and a Celebration of Life will be held from 1:00 to 3:00 PM Sunday, July 30, 2023 at the Hyattville Community Center. If anyone has a memory to share of Rob, please email it to Kristi at kristi@paintrockconsulting.com so she can share them at the service. Memorial donations may be made to the Hyattville Community Center and sent to PO Box 524, Worland, WY 82401. Online condolences may be made at www.bryantfuneralhomeonline.com.