September 2018 | Vol. 4 Iss. 09
FREE
IN THEIR WORDS: REMEMBERING JILL ROBINSON By Travis Barton | travis@mycityjournals.com ives lost are maybe best remembered through the words and actions of those closest to the deceased. If that is the case, then Jill Robinson’s memory is in good hands. Robinson, 52, was a West Valley City code enforcement officer killed in the line of duty on Aug. 9. Her funeral lasted well over an hour on Aug. 17 at the Maverik Center, where her siblings, children and boss all sang her praises. From her love of Halloween, animals and pranks to her road rage, fishing techniques and fierce family love. Here are some of their words. Wayne Pyle, West Valley city manager “(Jill) was loved, we loved working with her. She felt that her job and her efforts and contribution had meaning and they did. Our city is a better place for her contribution and her efforts. We will honor her service and we will honor her efforts by continuing to do the same, by striving to make West Valley a better city.” Layne Morris, Jill’s boss “Jill was an example to each one of us on how to stay focused on a job and not lose sight of that…she was looked up to and respected by everyone.” “She was a woman of high character and discipline and dedication. And as I’ve gotten to know her family this last week, I see those same characteristics in her children. That’s something that she would be proud of and they should know she was proud of them.” Katie Merrill, second oldest daughter of four kids “Our parents divorced when we were young kids and our mom spent most of our lives as a single mom. She was the hardest worker we’ve ever known and she put her heart and soul into everything she did. She showed us nothing was impossible. We are who we are today because we had her.” “She was at every swim meet, sports game, play and graduation. We know she was so proud of what each of us has accomplished. And in return, we are so proud of her accomplishments. Mom was a total badass.” “She graduated from the police academy
at 38, she frequently worked more than one job to get what she needed done. She was so proud to be a code enforcement officer.” “She even hand made our Halloween costumes for years. When it came to Halloween, which she absolutely loved, she figured out how to make whatever costume we wanted. Everything from a scarecrow to a lion to a birthday present to a pile of leaves to a kid being abducted by aliens, nothing was too weird or out of the question.” Haile Merrill, second youngest “Mom will keep living through us, everyone who knows us will know who she was. They will see her in our eyes, in our smiles and our sense of humor, in our tendency towards road rage, our clumsiness and our inability to remember the name of the actor we are trying to talk about.” “You will see her in the way we fiercely love each other.” “She taught us how to talk, how to walk, how to read and how to burp. She taught us the best way to fish: putting Starburst or cheese on our hooks and screaming, ‘here fishy fishy fishy!’ And she also taught us not to care about the looks people gave us when we did scream at the fish.” Jessica Knorr, oldest “What I loved most was her hugs. They were indescribable and powerful…I could feel that my happiness meant the world to her and she would do anything for me.” “With each and every hug I give my babies, I will try to hug them the same way that she hugged me.” Julie Robinson Egelund, sister [Addressing Robinson’s children] “Please forgive your mom Jill, and me too because I was a part of it. Whenever we were together in the car — going shopping, to the park, even to Bear Lake, you name it because it happened every time — I’m sorry but Jill would drive and between her hot, little legs, she had a bag. And she would reach down to that bag and then distract all of you and say, ‘look at that!’ Or she would cough or clear her voice, all the while she was eating candy.”
Local Postal Customer ECRWSS
L
Thank You
Jill Lanette Robinson, 52, was a West Valley City code enforcement officer who died in the line of duty on Aug. 9. Loved ones remembered her pranks, road rage and love of softball. (Courtesy Jill Robinson family)
“Then with a sleight of hand, she would give me some and I would do the same. Please forgive me, but it was just candy for us two moms.” We are still two moms, just now it’s one mom on this side and one mom on the other side. We have you covered from heaven to earth and back to heaven again.” Jaren Robinson, brother [Referring to Jill’s bone marrow donation
when Jaren got leukemia] “She took injections that would make her sick to create more stem cells. They only wanted 10 million. They made her so sick. A machine would extract stem cells and give blood back to her…They put her 10 million cells by IV into my body and I began to regrow and reproduce.” “Her DNA is now my DNA.” “Jill, we love you. We miss you, but we know you will be by our side.” l
to our Community Sponsors for supporting City Journals
Presort Std U.S. Postage PAID Riverton, UT Permit #44