Dena Sue Robinson

Dena Sue Robinson, a wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother passed away peacefully surrounded by several brothers and sisters on Wednesday, May 6, 2026 at the Douglas Care Center at the age of 85 in Douglas, Wyoming.

Born in Lusk, Wyoming on Saturday, January 25, 1941, Dena was raised by parents Maysie G. (Harris) and Francis Hewitt McVay, in a household with twelve children. Their free-range rural upbringing instilled both an independent spirit and a profound bond between all the siblings.

She married Gary Robinson at Episcopal Church of Saint John the Baptist in Glendo, Wyoming on Thanksgiving Day November 24,1960. From Laramie to Riverton and Lovell, Wyoming, she became a mother of three over the next several years, before the family moved from Wyoming to the Midwest in 1967. In Kansas City, she volunteered as a health room nurse and served a term as PTA President. In 1973-74, they built and moved into their own dreamhouse at Weatherby Lake.

Dena then took steps towards a dream of her own, obtaining a teaching degree in 1979 from Missouri Western State University, and later a Masters in Elementary Education from Webster University.

She began her elementary school teaching career in 1978 at the Union Chapel Elementary School. She taught fifth grade, and served as a computer and science facilitator, also working with the Union Chapel Young Astronauts Club. Activities included multiple visits to Space Camp, once on her own, a few times with her students, and once in 1999 with three of her granddaughters.

She was recognized in 1991 by the Northland Chamber of Commerce with an “Excellence in Teaching” award. She retired July 1st, 2002. Her students thought highly of her and often recognized her at public outings many years later, stopping to share their stories and fond memories.

In March of 2021, she and Gary relocated to Mountain Lodge Assisted Living in Douglas, Wyoming. This brought her back to her Wyoming roots and allowed her to be close to her brothers and sisters, many of whom lived nearby.

Dena is survived by her three children, Larry, Kyla (Stefani), and Ryan Shad, seven grandchildren, seven great grandchildren, and seven siblings.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Francis, on January 20, 1982 and Maysie on February 2, 2006; husband; Gary, on November 14, 2022; and four siblings.

Per her wishes, Dena will join her husband at the Forest Mound Cemetery in Jay Em, Wyoming on Saturday, June 6th, 2026. A celebration of life with friends and family will take place on that day at 12:30 P.M. with a visit to the cemetery afterwards.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to the Alzheimer’s Association – a donation link can be found online at alzfdn.org.

The Gorman Funeral Homes-Converse Chapel of Douglas, Wyoming assisted with of the arrangements.

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