My mother passed away Monday–just four days short of her 95th birthday. She’d enjoyed good health her entire life, but around noon on Mother’s Day developed some shortness of breath. Our family friend and PA who examined her said it was probably pnuemonia. She slipped away peacefully the next evening surrounded by family.

Since all you feel like family, I thought I’d share the obituary that I wrote for her. She truly was my hero.

Daisy Bagby Robson was born May 16, 1913 in Pierre, South Dakota. She passed away just four days shy of her 95th birthday on Monday, May 12, surrounded by family.

Daisy, the third of four children born to Robert Emmons Bagby and Della McGannon, was a child of the prairie. She liked to say that she learned to ride before she could walk, and she spent many hours of her youth exploring the hills and valleys of the Missouri River.

She graduated from Pierre High School and soon after married the love her life, Reuben Robson. The couple celebrated 50 years of marriage before Reuben’s death in 1985. Together they raised five children, although much of that rearing fell to Daisy during the 51 months that Reuben spent in the Army during WWII. After the war, Daisy continued to own and operate a Star Route for the U.S. Postal Service, which ran between Watertown and Arlington, South Dakota, for nearly forty years. She and Reuben purchased the Brookings Taxi in 1956 and ran it until they retired in 1971. True “snow birds,” they traveled between Las Vegas, South Dakota and California for many of their golden years. After Reuben’s death, Daisy moved to Cathey’s Valley to be near family.

Always an active person, Daisy played a mean game of Scrabble, cracked walnuts for Buchanan Hollow Nut Company, crocheted potholders and baked her famous sticky buns for family functions. Once she could no longer drive, she moved into The Hampshire independent living center where she continued to enjoy good health and great adventures until 2006 when she moved to the Just Like Home assisted living center.

She is survived by her five children and their spouses: Robert Robson and Sharleen of Le Grand, Jan O’Brien of Cathey’s Valley, Jean Harming of Boise, Idaho, Don Robson and Shirley of Tracy, and Debra Salonen and Paul of Cathey’s Valley. She was grandmother to thirteen, great-grandmother to twenty and great-great-grandmother to six.

Daisy’s ashes will be interred in the Scotty Philip Cemetery in Ft. Pierre, South Dakota, in sight of the Missouri River beside her beloved husband.

Forgive me if I’m not quick to respond to your lovely posts. I somehow managed to catch a terrible flu the same night Mom passed. Strange, but true.

Deb