- Date Of Birth: August 19, 2017
- Date Of Death: February 7, 1932
- State: Idaho
Gary Edsel Robbins, 85, died Saturday, August 19, 2017, in Emmett, Idaho. Gary was born February 7, 1932, in Hoisington, Kansas, to J. R. ‘Bob’ and Sue Robbins. The family settled in Emmett in 1941. He worked in the family business, OK Rubber Welders, through high school, graduating in 1950. He enlisted in the Army, took basic training at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, and was shipped out to Korea, serving 2 years there, with the 439th Engineers. He was a long-standing member of both VFW and American Legion posts in Emmett. He married Delores Hanson in January, 1955, and from this union, their son Scott was born August 5, 1958 and daughter, Deanna, on October 12, 1960. He, along with his sister Gail, purchased the family business in the mid-sixties. After they sold the store to Dean’s Tire, Gary went into construction, remodeling and building many homes in the Emmett valley. He retired in 1998, but continued working with wood, making beautiful furniture, lathe turnings, and other wooden crafts. Gary and Delores spent many weekends at the cabins they built at Cougar Mountain. During this time, they fell in love with snowmobiling, and ended up running a Yamaha dealership, Robbins Yamaha. They took many memorable trips with family and friends. After snowmobiling, they took up motorcycling, and racked up many miles traveling the country on two wheels. Another loved activity was square dancing with the Silver Leaf Club of Emmett, dancing all over the country, traveling with an informal group of square dancing RV’rs, making many wonderful friends. After retirement, they became snowbirds and spent the cold winter months in Yuma, Arizona. Last year, they made the move permanent and sold their Emmett residence to live in Yuma full time. Gary is survived by his wife, Delores, their son, Scott, and daughter, Deanna and her husband, Bob Stevenson, and granddaughter Jennifer and her husband, Chuck Dee; 2 great-grandchildren; his sister, Gail Spencer, several nieces, nephew, great nieces and great nephews.
