OBITUARY: LATANE ATKINS ROBERTSON

SAN ANGELO — Latane Akins Robertson, a longtime resident of San Angelo, was born on Oct. 2, 1918, in McCaulley, Texas. A devoted mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, wife, sister and friend, she passed away peacefully Thursday morning, March 22, 2007, in Baptist Memorials Center. Mrs. Robertson was greatly loved and will be missed by her family and friends alike. Funeral service will be at 1 p.m. Monday, March 26, in Baptist Memorials chapel. Graveside service in Fairmount Cemetery will follow. Viewing will be from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday, March 25, and from 8 a.m. to noon Monday, March 26, at Johnson's Funeral Home, 435 W. Beauregard Ave. During her life of church and community service, Mrs. Robertson was a grade-school teacher in Glen Cove and Imperial, Texas. After marrying Ben L. Robertson, she retired from teaching to raise her children. After the children were in school, Mrs. Robertson returned to work in nursing in Baptist Memorials Center and worked alongside its founder, Elsie Gayer. Mrs. Robertson was a member of the Harris Avenue Baptist Church since 1955 and an active volunteer until age 85. When her health precluded her from driving, she helped to arrange meals for funerals and worked with the hospitality committee making calls to the homebound and assisted with yearly Christmas boxes for soldiers. She also delivered Meals for the Elderly well into her 70s. "She was a remarkable, strong woman," said Mrs. Robertson's daughter, Kay Miller. "Our mother was a woman of strong Christian faith who lived her beliefs throughout her lifetime. While she will be greatly missed by all of us, we, her children, are all better adults for the role model and example our mother set for us all of our lives. We all knew we were unconditionally loved by our mother." Mrs. Robertson is survived by four children; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Her eldest daughter, Kay Miller, is a resident of San Angelo employed by Webb, Stokes and Sparks Law Firm. Daughter Jeannie Williams and her husband, Lt. Col. Craig Williams (USAF retired), recent residents of San Angelo, now reside in Yuma, Ariz. Mrs. Robertson's youngest daughter, Dr. Denise Collier and husband Craig Collier, reside in Dallas, Texas. Her son, Gary Robertson and wife Marilyn Robertson, reside in Austin, Texas. Mrs. Robertson's grandchildren include David Aylor, Shelly Aylor and Erica Miller of San Angelo, Wendy Palmer of Boise, Idaho, and Dr. Tara Spires-Jones of Boston. Her two much loved great-grandchildren are Isabel Grace Palmer of Boise, Idaho, and Maxwell Spires-Jones of Boston. Mrs. Robertson was a member of a large extended family and was one of 17 children born to Martin Luther Akins and Beulah Parker Akins of McCaulley, Texas. She was preceded in death by her parents and several siblings, including five sisters, Icey Akins Snellgrove, Cleo Akins McCloud, Alline Akins Jones, Dale Akins Russo, Kat Akins Borron; and four brothers, Leo Akins, Ray Akins, Wesley Akins and Bill Akins. Mrs. Robertson was also preceded in death by her husband, Mr. Ben L. Robertson, who passed away in 1976; a much loved daughter, Debra Sue Robertson; and a special beloved grandson, Michael Williams, both of whom passed away in childhood. Her surviving siblings include two brothers, the Rev. Bynum Akins, formerly of Taiwan and now of Garland, Texas, and the Rev. Ferris Akins of Ballinger, Texas, as well as four sisters, Nola Akins Vymola of Fort Worth, Texas, Lillian Akins Gotcher of Lubbock, Texas, Corrine Akins Pinson of Warner Robbins, Ga., and Martha Akins Lewellen of Austin, Texas. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, to Mrs. Robertson's church home, Harris Avenue Baptist Church, or to Baptist Memorials Center. Flowers should be sent to Johnson's Funeral Home. The family would like to express a special thanks to the staff of Division 5 Baptist Memorials Center, and also to Tonia and Phyllis, as well as to Mary and the other hospice nurses for their loving care of Mother. We are grateful for their many kindnesses and endless patience.
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