July 28, 1953 ~ Sept. 8, 2023
Rita Robison Sherman, 70, was born July 28, 1953, and passed away on September 8, 2023.
Rita was raised in Fillmore, Utah, the seventh of eight children of Hal and Oleve Robison. Her parents were absolutely delighted to have a new baby girl, as her birth followed the accidental death of her next older sister, Katie, only a few months prior.
Rita was bright, happy, and adventurous, and some of her teachers might even have said rambunctious. She was always cheerful and was usually found getting into some fun trouble. She graduated from Millard High in 1971 and with that adventurous spirit, headed to Lodi, California, to stay with her sister Janet. It was there that she met the love of her life, Larry Sherman. Larry’s family had an electrical lighting store, and he also had three children, Michael, Michelle, and Sherri, who became her own. Rita loved the kids and far into her adult life, she and Michael would stay very close – beyond the passing of his father Larry, right until the end. The adventurous spirit was active, and Larry and Rita left Lodi in 1993, moving to Mono County, which was more rural and a bit wild. They built a beautiful home in the foothills where they could interact with all sorts of wild critters, bears included, and some not quite so wild – Buddy the poodle, and Walker the cat. Larry became a deputy sheriff and Rita began her career in the county planning department. Her BA in Industrial Arts with an emphasis in Architectural Drafting providing the background for her career, advancing from the Assessment Clerk to her promotion to Director of Facilities and Risk Management.
Rita was enchanted with antiques, and over the years, collected many fascinating pieces. Some were family heirlooms, others from places she’d visit. She has tables, lamps, cupboards, figurines, and lots of rocks. All were kept immaculate!Her favorite items were her napkin dolls. Napkin dolls are an ornate porcelain figurine of a woman in a flowing dress, with slots in the dress where napkins were held. The napkin lady would be placed in the center of a dining table, providing napkins for all. Her collection numbered over 100, too many to count. She decorated her house with these beautiful dolls and made it especially fun to hear her talk about their origins.
She and Larry retired in 2015, and unfortunately, Larry passed a short time later. Rita was a bit lost without her life-long companion and in 2020 moved back to her ‘roots’ to be near family and friends in Fillmore. She built a comfortable home and immediately got involved with the community’s ‘going’s-on’ to help preserve the quiet lifestyle she enjoyed there.She developed a serious illness this past summer and died a few short weeks later, with her son and family by her side.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Hal and Oleve Robison, and her older sisters Katie and Janet (Rich, deceased) Watts. Her survivors include siblings Judy (Allen, deceased) Roberts, Phil (Roxy) Robison, Ellie (Don) Fuller, Lynn (Roy) Coston, Bob (Ruth) Robison, and son Michael (Shelly) Sherman, and his sisters, Michelle, and Sherri.
A tribute and gathering of family and friends is planned at 11 a.m. on November 4, 2023, at the Fillmore City Cemetery, Fillmore, Utah. Online condolences at www.rasmussmenmortuary.com
