Robin Smith

Alice Robin McMann Smith was born on a bright blue ""big sky"" day in Butte Montana. It was a Thursday morning, the 24th day of July in 1925. The McMann family, Mother Heurta, Father Harry, brothers Robert and Richard, and sisters Mavis and Virginia struggled through the great depression. It was a time when family was everything, and quite often the only thing. Even when there were no jobs, and no food on the table, they had the wealth of a loving family. When her parents passed away, Robin was left to raise her younger brother Dick. She was 16 and he 14, and for her it was the beginning of a life dedicated to selflessly taking care of others. In 1954, she moved to Denver to live with her aunt and uncle, Annabelle and Henry Nelson. She got a job working for The Denver Dry Goods Company, where she eventually became a buyer, one of the first of her gender to do so. It was there that she met George G. Smith. He was a tie salesman and her subordinate, but he boldly pursued her. After many long lunches at The Ships Tavern in The Brown Palace Hotel, he finally asked for her hand, and, Alice Robin McMann became Mrs. George G. Smith, Jr. She gave up her career to raise her three children Gregory, Leslie, and Jeffrey. She spent the rest of her life taking care of her family, and those around her in need. Whether she was teaching Sunday school, tutoring, working with Big Sisters, the E.C.W., or even being the president of the Salvation Army Women's Auxiliary from 1995-1997, she devoted herself to serving others. So much so that she was honored by the Salvation Army by being chosen Doll of the Year in 1998. She was known for her sense of humor to everyone she came into contact with, and few can think of her without it causing them to smile. She was an adoring wife, a caring sister, a joyful friend, a nurturing loving mom, and an awesomely fun grandma. Although it seems cliché, she truly did touch the lives of everyone she met, and they were better off for just having known her. She was joy. She was grace. She was springtime in a wintery world. She was like her namesake. She was our Robin. A Memorial Service will be held Tuesday, March 23, 2010, 11:00am St. Phillips & St. James Episcopal Church, 2797 South Lowell Blvd. Denver, Colorado 80236. Interment will follow service at Fort Logan National Cemetery. Memorials may be made to St. Phillips & St. James Episcopal Church. Please share memories of Robin and condoleces with her family by selectint the ""Sign Guestbook"" tab below.