Karrilee V. Robison

Karrilee Van Vliet Robison October 8, 1959 - April 20, 2012 Born October 8, 1959 in Glendora, California, Karri was 52 when she succumbed to metastatic endometrial cancer, which she battled valiantly since her initial diagnosis in April, 2008. A fifty year resident of Concord, Karri graduated from Concord High School in 1977. She subsequently graduated from Brigham Young University (Provo, Utah) in 1981 after having completed a semester abroad in Madrid, Spain (1979). On August 21, 1981 she married Gerald "Jerry" Alan Robison of Kent, Washington in the Oakland Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Karri is survived by a large and loving family and many friends. In addition to her spouse Jerry, she is survived by her sons Brandon Jerry, Matthew Alan, Jordan Nicklaus, her daughter Alexandra "Allie" Jessie Robison and her daughter-in-law Veronica Jacqueline Alban-Robison. Immediate family survivors also include Karri's parents Myrth Ellen Rands Van Vliet and Claude Bastian Van Vliet (Concord), siblings Kimberlee Staking (Fairfield), Jeffrey Van Vliet (San Ramon), Christian R. "Randy" Van Vliet (Concord), and in-laws Gerald and Shirlee Robison (Smithfield, Utah). Other family survivors include brothers-in-law Ron Ellerbeck, Jeff Green, Len Robison, and Kim Staking; sisters-in-law Jeanne Ellerbeck, Shelly Robison, Colleen Van Vliet, and Jackie Van Vliet and many aunts, uncles, cousins. Karri was adored by and took great delight in her 27 nieces and nephews and in her grand-nieces and nephews (16+). Karri was predeceased by her mother-in-law Betty Noblitt Robison, who passed away on December 15, 1967 in Rock Springs, Wyoming and by her maternal and paternal grandparents. Karri will be remembered among family, friends, and colleagues as an exuberantly joyful person of strong faith, great kindness, good cheer, and remarkable patience. These qualities were particularly evident in her family relationships as a beloved daughter, sister, aunt, wife and mother. She was joyously proud of and devoted to her four beautiful children who were unquestionably the light of her life. She was also an extraordinarily caring friend, a valued colleague and a gifted teacher who practiced her life calling with passion and dedication at Cambridge Elementary for the final fifteen years of her life, retiring only weeks before her death. Many current and former students have written deeply heartfelt notes expressing both their appreciation of Karri's talents as a teacher and their awareness of how much she gave of herself to them as a loving and encouraging mentor. In the past four years she also became an inspiration to all who knew her for the quietly indomitable grit and courage with which she faced her terminal struggle with cancer. Karri loved spending time at home and on outings with her immediate and extended family; she especially enjoyed weekend walks with family members and her dog Abby. She enjoyed eating out but she also enjoyed cooking and baking and will be fondly remembered for the homemade rolls she often brought to weekly Sunday dinners at her parents' home where her siblings and their families would gather. She was a fan of the Oakland A's and the San Francisco 49ers as well as an enthusiastic participant in games nights with friends and family. She loved reading, keeping up with TV shows and doing crossword puzzles with her Mom. Together with friends she and Jerry went out to dinner and the movies on weekly Saturday night dates. While studying and living in Spain (Madrid and Barcelona) in 1981, Karri developed a passion for traveling; highlights included two European cruises, one cruise to Mexico, four trips to Hawaii, and annual family vacations with her extended family to Yosemite (where she successfully hiked to the top of Half Dome in 2001) and to Hermosa Beach. In September, Karri, Jerry and their children had the trip of a lifetime together as they traveled to Nicaragua upon the completion of Jordan's missionary service for the LDS church. The family extends grateful appreciation to Karri's friends, colleagues at Cambridge Elementary School and members in the ward community (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) for their wonderful support. Special thanks to Dr. Michael Sherman and staff at Contra Costa Oncology who extended themselves so generously on Karri's behalf as they treated her cancer throughout these past four years, and to the Medical Surgical Unit (5B) at John Muir Medical Center, Walnut Creek who attended Karri during her final hospitalization. Visitation 9 am with Services at 10 am, Wednesday, April 25, 2012 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 1360 Alberta Way, Concord. Interment will follow at Oakmont Memorial Park, 2099 Reliez Valley Road, Lafayette, California. Contributions to the college fund established for the Robison children may be made at any Chase Bank, account 456459721 (name either Jerry Robison or Kim Staking), or mailed to Kim Staking, 961 Antiquity Drive, Fairfield, 94534. Visitation Wednesday, April 25, 2012 09:00 am-09:45 am Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 1360 Alberta Way Concord CA 94521 Funeral Service Wednesday, April 25, 2012 10:00 am Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 1360 Alberta Way Concord CA 94521