The following obituaries appeared in the March 16, 2022 edition of the Star Valley Independent.
For more area obituaries, please visit Schwab Mortuary.
For more resources including headstones, please visit the Star Valley Historical Society.
Merrill E. Robinson was born in Afton, Wyoming on June 5th, 1945 to John Melvin Robinson and Leone Augusta Erickson, he was the eighth of ten children. Merrill had an adventurous and hardworking childhood where he grew up in the mountains of Freedom, Wyoming next to Tin Cup Creek. Merrill thought he was the luckiest boy in the world to be a part of his family and to have the mountains and the great outdoors to grow up in. When he was three years old Merrill contracted Polio, through the power of God and inspiration of an uncle who was a Doctor, Merrill was able to battle his Polio. Merrill loved working and doing various boy recreational activities with his older and younger brothers. The stories are countless and the bond of love, between the Robinson children was endless.
Merrill served a building mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in June, 1964 to 1966. He served in the Carbondale, Illinois mission covering areas of Chicago, St. Louis, California and Denver. Merrill’s love of woodworking and building was further encouraged and grew on his mission.
Merrill met Carole Ann Hardyman in the winter of 1966 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He was working the power lines of New Mexico and surrounding areas at the time. Merrill fell in love and proposed to Carole on Christmas Eve of 1966. They were married in the Utah, Salt Lake City Temple on March 3, 1967. Merrill and Carole traveled and followed the powerline and worked at its home base. They lived in Utah and later moved to Bedford, Wyoming. In the summer of 1976 Merrill and Carole moved to Los Lunas, New Mexico where they raised their 6 children; Jackie Newey (Scott), Slade (Charla), Jared (Robyn), Christie Moss (Justin), Kattie Moss (Wesley) and Jake (Tammy). Merrill and Carole have 27 Grandchildren, 15 Great-Grandchildren with two more on the way.
Merrill and Carole with their children and Children-in-laws started their own Rental Yard business in the Fall of 1992 in Peralta, New Mexico. Here the family worked with and served the community for 30 years. Merrill has helped to build each of his children’s homes, has built and worked on many church projects. He is known throughout the community for his ability to engineer, design, create, and build.
In April of 2012 Merrill’s sweetheart, Carole, passed away after battling A.L.S. Merrill worked on his many projects, mentoring his grandchildren and Children. Merrill found a companion in Ann Nicoll of Bosque Farms, New Mexico and married in the Spring of 2013. They have been able to share their love of animals, farming and nature together.
Merrill battled Congestive Heart failure for about a year. He had cancer when he was in his 40’s and the treatment for the cancer caused damage to his heart. Merrill was blessed with being able to return home to Heaven, (without having his truck keys taken away) on March 7th, 2022.
“A mountain of a man, hands of steel, thick skin, and true grit. The epitome of what a real man should be.” Chase Ward.
