Evelyn Marie Robinson

Evelyn Marie Robinson was born November 4, 1929, to Robert R. and Jessie Niven Schomp at her grandfather's home on Mayville Flat, Oregon. Her parents moved, while she was still a baby, to their own home a short distance away. She grew up there and attended grade school, first at a country school, then at Mayville Grade School.

She and her sister Margaret were the only two students in the country school, and Margaret graduated from the eighth grade leaving Evelyn to attend school at Mayville, Oregon until she went to high school in Fossil, Oregon.

Having started school when she was five and being skipped one more year from first to third grade she was 12 years old when she entered high school, and graduated as valedictorian at age 16.

She became a very good typist in high school and went to Northwestern Business College in Portland, Oregon. Cromwell Tailors had called the college looking for a typist and the college sent her to them where she typed letters to be sent to customers promoting their business. Following college, she returned to Fossil, where she was employed at the Wheeler County Courthouse in the Sheriff's office and the District Attorney's office.

While in high school she met the love of her life, Art Robinson. They were married June 19, 1948, celebrating 70 years together prior to his passing in 2018. They spent the first few years of their married life at the Schomp ranch until they moved to Fossil, in 1952. Her uncle George Schomp owned the Signal service station in Fossil, when he became ill they rented the business and upon his passing purchased the business from her aunt Lillie where her business office skills were a blessing. The business also included a bulk oil distributorship, handled a variety of farm supplies, and would become the first Les Schwab Tire Member Dealer.

Les Schwab bought the business in 1968 after Art and Evelyn purchased a distributing business in LaGrande, OR where she continued to be the sole bookkeeper. After her father's passing and they had grown the business to more than a one man operation Evelyn wanted to move closer to her mother. In 1974 they purchased Pendleton Distributing, which became Robinson Distributing with Evelyn continuing to take care of all the bookkeeping and by then having to learn new computer skills.

Throughout her life she never backed down from a challenge and never knew how to say "no" when someone asked her to donate, whether it be monetarily, or time consuming, serving on a committee or preparing food for an event or getting the event ready.

While in Fossil, OR she served many years as a member of the Parent Teacher Association, was a member of the Rebekah's, helped with various BPOE events, and volunteered at various charity events. In Pendleton she was a faithful member of the Bargain Counter volunteering several hours a week and the Pendleton Women's Club where she embroidered a countless number of towels for their fundraising events.

She was an avid bowler, bridge player, and bunco player and also greatly enjoyed their time spent with the "Roving Elks campers". However, primarily she was a great mother and wife that was the glue that held things together and do what was needed to complete any task, always having something to eat no matter how late dad worked.

Evelyn is survived by sons Curtis and Craig (Karla), of Pendleton, daughter Caren Reed (Tom) of Pilot Rock. Four grandchildren and many great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by husband Art, parents Robert and Jessie Schomp, sister Margaret Schomp Stangel, and granddaughter Callie Niven Mikesell.

A graveside service will be held 1.m. Thursday, May 9, 2024, at the Mayville Cemetery with a reception to follow at the Glover Hall in Fossil.

Donations may be made to Vange John Memorial Hospice, 645 W. Orchard Ave., Hermiston, OR 97838 or to PAWS (Pendleton Animal Welfare Shelter), PO Box 1876, Pendleton, OR 97801. Sweeney Mortuary is in care of arrangements. You may sign the online condolence book at http://www.sweeneymortuary.com.