William Heber Robb and Clara Minnie Simmons: September 2011

William Heber Robb

William Heber Robb

Place of Birth: Paragoonah Iron Co, Utah
Date of Birth: June 5 1877
Entered into Rest: June 18, 1958
Age: 81 years 0 Months 13 Days
Place of Death: Billings Montana
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Final Resting Place: Cowley Cemetery
Cowley, Big Horn Co, Wyoming
Interred: June 21 1958
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Services: Cowley L.D.S. Chapel
June 21, 1958   1 P.M.
Officiating: Bishop Carlyle B. Eyre

The Funeral Service

Funeral Services for Wm Heber Robb were held Saturday June 21st at 1 P.M. in the Cowley Ward Chapel under the direction of Bishop Carlyle B. Eyre.

Prelude music was played by Mrs. Claude A. Lewis Jr. The invocation was offered by R.R. Lewis.

The choir sang “Through Deepening Trials”, directed by Mrs. C. Golden Welch and accompanied by Mrs. Claude A. Lewis Jr.

The speakers were H. D. Wilson and Robert L. Peterson.

H.D. Wilson spoke of the Destiny of men, the Predestination of man. The Pre-existant State, the Birth, the Death and the Resurrection.

Robert L. Peterson spoke of the deceased as being a man of honor, spoke of his honesty and integrity, industry and thrift.

The obituary was given by Mrs Maud Holyoak. A duet “Beyond the Sunset” was sung by Art and Ford Welch accompanied by Mrs C. Golden Welch.

The closing song by the choir, “Abide With Me.” The dedication was pronounced by Melburn Dalton.

Mrs Claude A Lewis Jr played postlude music.

Many of the congregation were heard to remark that it was a very lovely service.

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The Obituary for William Heber Robb

(Written and given by Maud Holyoake)

I have prayed most earnestly that my Father in Heaven will bless the words I speak on this sweet solemn occasion that they may be a fitting tribute to a Beloved Husband, father, grandfather and kindly friend. I know that above all else, Bro. Robb would have me speak honestly, sincerely and briefly, just as his life typified, honest, modest and unpretentious living.

On the evening of June 18th, the quiet shadows of night shut from our earthly view Bro. Wm Heber Robb. But even as we whisper a last farewell, we know that he goes on to face another sunrise, above the distance hills of Home.

The memories Bro. Robbs family cherish this day, stand as a monument to the character of this quiet man, so unassuming.

I have loved listening to the story of his life as told me by Sister Wardell. I love sharing that story with you this afternoon. My heart was touched by the industrious and faithfulness of the little boy who scrambled up the steep banks of the San Juan River in Southern Utah, carrying pails of water to water the vegetable garden his mother had so carefully and laboriously planted along its banks.

San Juan River at Bluff Utah

I sensed the pioneer virtues of courage, industry and vision that inspired a young man to leave his comfortable home and circumstances and join his labor and his destiny with other valiant pioneers in settling the Big Horn Basin.

Wm Heber Robb was born in Paragoonah, Utah June 5th 1877. The second son of Adam Franklin Robb and Sarah Holyoak Robb. He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Days Saints.

When Bro. Robb was a young boy his father answered the call of Pres. Brigham Young to settle the picturesque Indian territory of the San Juan Valley.

Hole-in-the Rock Pass

His father, mother and elder brother were with the second company of Saints to pass through that treacherous Mtn pass known as “The Hole in the Rock” to settle in Bluff Utah. After a few years the family returned to Parowan, where they built a comfortable home, surrounding it with every beauty.

William Heber Robb

By this time Bro. Robb was a young man and one day he told his parents of his intention to come to the Big Horn in Wyo. Aunt Sarah told her family, “if Heber goes to Wyo. Then I shall go too” and his sister Alice said “if Heber goes I want to go too.”

So it was that the family came to Cowley and lived in a little one room home across the wash. But that first bleak winter, the children often saw their mother weep at the desolation all about her.

Sarah Permelia Holyoak Robb Wardell
Wm Heber's mother

But in the spring, the beloved home in Utah with its flowers and gardens and peach and raspberry orchards ceased to be a memory that saddened and instead became the dream and pattern that fashioned their new home in the new land.

Clara Minnie Simmons Robb

Minnie holding baby Walter, Clifton, Elton and Kenneth
approx June 1918

On Sept 12th 1912, Wm Heber married Clara Minnie Simmons and on March 31st 1945 their lovely, sweet mother died, leaving to miss so greatly her loving care and devotion her husband and six sons.

Mary McDonald McNeish

On June 24th, 1946, Bro Robb married Mary McDonald McNeish. Sister Robb a convert to the Church has endeared herself to the family and has tenderly and lovingly cared for Bro Robb through the many illnesses he has suffered the past months.

Marriage License and Certificate of Heber Robb and Mary McNeish

It was Bro Robbs pleasure to provide well for the comfort of his loved ones. Great was his joy that he could on the land he loved work hand in hand with God in providing for himself and family and their daily bread. His farm complimented the love he had for the land for truly “most beautiful” Earth loved by a man who fabricates his love with industry, shielding the cherished acres in his span vigil of wilderness and native tree.

Aerial Photo taken 1963 of Robb Farm, Northwest of Cowley, Wyoming

He weaves bare timber to a rugged seam and wheel tracks ruin the boundary of his dreams.

Robb Bros. Brand

Through the years Bro Robb has had the satisfaction of having his boys work beside him on the farm. When their father was not well their labor has been willing and cheerfully given. Three of the boys are still at home, the other three return with frequent constancy with their families to visit their father and Sister Robb, and to eat some of her delicious home cooked meals and just for the fun and pleasure of being home.

The nicest thing that could be said of a man could be said of Bro Robb, he was kind and thoughtful of his mother, solicitous of her care. When he was a young man working away from home, his homecoming was always a special occasion to his family. He never failed to bring home some nice little treat, something that perhaps the father and mother had not been able to afford. He loved his grand children, his little grandson in Lovell, his name sake inquired each day of his parents “Is grandpa better today?”

I hope that you as I have looked beyond the seeming sternness of his face to see the twinkle of merriment in his eyes that reflects his delightful sense of humor and his love of life.

Men are of two kinds, and he was the kind I’d like to be. Some preached their virtues and a few express their lives by what they do. That sort was he - no flowery phrase nor gibly spoken words of praise, won friends for him. He wasn’t cheap or shallow, but his course ran deep. And it was pure - you know the kind, not many in this life you find whose deeds out run their words so far that more than what they seem - they are. There are two kinds of lives as well, the kind you live- the kind you tell. Back through his years from age to youth, he never acted one untruth and in the open light he fought and didn’t care what others thought, nor what they said about his fight. If he believed he was right. The only deeds he ever hid were acts of kindness which he did. What speech he had was plain and blunt. His was an unattractive front, yet children loved him. Babe and boy, played with the strength he could employ, without one fear, and they are -het to sense injustice and deceit.

Warranty Deed with Release of Homestead
"my beloved sons jointly"

Men are two kinds and he was the kind I’d like to be. No door at which he ever knocked against his manly form was locked. If ever man on earth was free and independent it was he. No broken pledge lost him respect. He met all men with head erect. And when he passed I think there went a soul to yonder firmament, so white so splendid so fine it came almost to God’s design.

Bro. Robb leaves the following family to mourn his passing, wife Mary, six sons. Clifton, Kenneth, Clair of Cowley, Walter of Lovell, Elton of Pleasant Grove Utah and Heber S. of Springville Utah, one sister Alice Wardell of Cowley, one brother Albertus Robb of Duchesne Utah, nine grandchildren, many friends and relatives.

The Six Robb Brothers
Front Row: Elton, Kenneth and Heber Robb
Back Row: Clair, Clifton and Walter Robb

In closing I would like to bear my testimony to the family of the truthfulness of the gospel. That God lives, that the greatest happiness in life comes from keeping the commandments of our Father in Heaven.

In the great plan of life and salvation over which like morning stars shouted for joy. Death was a necessary experience along the path to life Eternal.