JOLAYNE THOMSON ROBINSON, passed away in Magrath, Alberta on Monday, December 25, 2023 at the age of 88 years.
Jolayne was the eldest child of Earl G. and LaDean (Passey) Thomson. She was proud to tell the family that she was born on the longest night of the year, December 22, 1935. We are sure that both her mother and father understood that in very different ways than even we do. The family began on a small farm on the ridge south of Magrath. Jolayne’s mother called it “Far View.” After a few years they bought a new farm to expand farming and ranching opportunities just north of Magrath overlooking the Pothole Creek vista. This led to the new farm being called “Fair View.” Jolayne grew up there with three brothers and a sister.
Jolayne attended school in Magrath. At times she would ride their pony to school with her brother Melvin but most often rode the bus—which was truly a wooden shed in the back of a neighbor’s pickup truck. It was in junior high school and the school basketball teams’ travel that she began to notice a young man who would become a significant part of her life later on. Once she graduated from Magrath High School, she and her best friends Ann, Ellen, and Maureen left together for The University of Alberta in Edmonton. She completed the required Teacher Certification training in one year. She later pursued her BA degree in Library Science through night and summer school.
She began her teaching career in Magrath, where that dashing young man came back into the picture. After a memorable date he said, “Let’s go in and ask your parents if we can get married.” The answer was in the affirmative. “Will you marry me” was apparently never uttered and therefore she apparently never needed to say “Yes!” Nonetheless, she and Ross H Robinson were married a few weeks later in the Cardston Temple on July 25, 1957. Not long afterward Jolayne quit teaching and began raising a family, occasionally substitute teaching, once for an extended time in a small three-grade classroom in Spring Coulee. She also ran a kindergarten in her home for a couple of years prior to their move to the farm. Together with Ross they built three homes; the first in Magrath, another when they moved to Happy Valley Farms to farm with his uncle and cousin, and the last home in town when they left farming. They and their family also built a summer cabin at Echo Lake near Bigfork, MT; where she enjoyed time with her family throughout the summers.
Just before they left farming, Jolayne landed a teaching assignment with Crystal Spring Colony in a one-room classroom with grades 1-8. She also later taught short stints at both Old Elm and New Elm Colonies. The colonies were the highlight of her teaching career. She loved her time there. She was tickled to meet former students in Lethbridge, or Magrath, when they were in town.
She retired after a small stroke encouraged her to reconsider her priorities. She was then able to travel to see children and grandchildren and spend more time at the cabin. She and Ross served as building missionaries in Australia, twice, for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Jolayne loved to sew on about any project that came up. She completed a quilt for each of her 25 grandchildren among many others. She was also active in the community on the library board.
Jolayne is survived by her sweetheart Ross, and children, Scott (Pam) Robinson, Ellensburg, WA; Barry (Sheila)Robinson, Magrath; Michelle (David) Caldwell, Great Falls, MT; Shaunna (Wally) Branchflower, Kamloops, BC; Vincent (Karen) Robinson, Sandy, UT; and Bradley (Tracy) Robinson, Miami, FL; Brothers Melvin (Diane) Thomson, Weldon (Margaret) Thomson, sister Lenore (Michael) Cahoon and sister-in-law Lise Thomson as well as large extended family of in-laws, cousins, nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her parents and recently a brother, Merrill Thomson.
The Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, January 6th, at 11:00 a.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Magrath Stake Center, Magrath, Alberta.
Friends may meet the family at the church on Friday, January 5th, from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. and on Saturday from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. prior to the service. Interment to follow in the Magrath Cemetery.
Link to watch the service will be available after the service.
Click to Send the Family Condolences
Jolayne was the eldest child of Earl G. and LaDean (Passey) Thomson. She was proud to tell the family that she was born on the longest night of the year, December 22, 1935. We are sure that both her mother and father understood that in very different ways than even we do. The family began on a small farm on the ridge south of Magrath. Jolayne’s mother called it “Far View.” After a few years they bought a new farm to expand farming and ranching opportunities just north of Magrath overlooking the Pothole Creek vista. This led to the new farm being called “Fair View.” Jolayne grew up there with three brothers and a sister.
Jolayne attended school in Magrath. At times she would ride their pony to school with her brother Melvin but most often rode the bus—which was truly a wooden shed in the back of a neighbor’s pickup truck. It was in junior high school and the school basketball teams’ travel that she began to notice a young man who would become a significant part of her life later on. Once she graduated from Magrath High School, she and her best friends Ann, Ellen, and Maureen left together for The University of Alberta in Edmonton. She completed the required Teacher Certification training in one year. She later pursued her BA degree in Library Science through night and summer school.
She began her teaching career in Magrath, where that dashing young man came back into the picture. After a memorable date he said, “Let’s go in and ask your parents if we can get married.” The answer was in the affirmative. “Will you marry me” was apparently never uttered and therefore she apparently never needed to say “Yes!” Nonetheless, she and Ross H Robinson were married a few weeks later in the Cardston Temple on July 25, 1957. Not long afterward Jolayne quit teaching and began raising a family, occasionally substitute teaching, once for an extended time in a small three-grade classroom in Spring Coulee. She also ran a kindergarten in her home for a couple of years prior to their move to the farm. Together with Ross they built three homes; the first in Magrath, another when they moved to Happy Valley Farms to farm with his uncle and cousin, and the last home in town when they left farming. They and their family also built a summer cabin at Echo Lake near Bigfork, MT; where she enjoyed time with her family throughout the summers.
Just before they left farming, Jolayne landed a teaching assignment with Crystal Spring Colony in a one-room classroom with grades 1-8. She also later taught short stints at both Old Elm and New Elm Colonies. The colonies were the highlight of her teaching career. She loved her time there. She was tickled to meet former students in Lethbridge, or Magrath, when they were in town.
She retired after a small stroke encouraged her to reconsider her priorities. She was then able to travel to see children and grandchildren and spend more time at the cabin. She and Ross served as building missionaries in Australia, twice, for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Jolayne loved to sew on about any project that came up. She completed a quilt for each of her 25 grandchildren among many others. She was also active in the community on the library board.
Jolayne is survived by her sweetheart Ross, and children, Scott (Pam) Robinson, Ellensburg, WA; Barry (Sheila)Robinson, Magrath; Michelle (David) Caldwell, Great Falls, MT; Shaunna (Wally) Branchflower, Kamloops, BC; Vincent (Karen) Robinson, Sandy, UT; and Bradley (Tracy) Robinson, Miami, FL; Brothers Melvin (Diane) Thomson, Weldon (Margaret) Thomson, sister Lenore (Michael) Cahoon and sister-in-law Lise Thomson as well as large extended family of in-laws, cousins, nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her parents and recently a brother, Merrill Thomson.
The Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, January 6th, at 11:00 a.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Magrath Stake Center, Magrath, Alberta.
Friends may meet the family at the church on Friday, January 5th, from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. and on Saturday from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. prior to the service. Interment to follow in the Magrath Cemetery.
Link to watch the service will be available after the service.
Click to Send the Family Condolences