Margaret Ruth Robinson, née Stevenson

Let it be known that on this day of our Lord, October 9th, 2024, the beloved, admired, and often idolized Margaret Ruth has severed her earthly tether and ascended to her heavenly throne to rest comfortably above us all. Likely bejeweled and clothed in the finest mink and fox furs, she joins her Savior and family who have paved the journey before her.

She lived to be 91 years old and credited her longevity to never exercising a day in her life, a penchant for pralines and blood rare steaks, as well as a good, stiff drink. An incredibly social and gracious host, Margaret Ruth brought people together and built communities surrounded by fellowship, stories, and laughter throughout every era of her life. First as Co-Chair of the Republican Society of Alvin, Texas, later as a member of the Genealogy Society of Victoria, Texas, followed by a stint with the Red Hat Old Betty Club of Victoria, and finally as a rambunctious member of The Crossings Retirement Community in League City, she held her audience's captive on the edge of their seats and with their heads on a swivel.

When she wasn't making a batch of her famous Velvet Hammers for company, Margaret Ruth was known for imparting solicited and more often unsolicited wisdom to friends, family, and strangers alike (not that she ever met one) with classic one-liners like: "I was busier than a one-armed wallpaper hanger." and "They don't call it a medical practice for nothing!" and "I don't need your help to die [the doctors], I can do that just fine on my own."

She was a proud Christian woman and an even prouder Republican known for her unusual yet characteristically affectionate kindness towards strangers. A former school aide, she had a special place in her heart for teachers and spoke highly of them. Margaret Ruth was known as a lifelong storyteller and her favorite subject, like her favorite thing in life, was people. With a particularly strong memory, she could retell a story a dozen times over across decades without ever changing the plot.

Nicknamed "The Queen" and "Outlaw Granny" by family, the always dressed-to-impress hard-willed woman still took to the roads of Texas and North Louisiana well into her 80s donning her signature large black sunglasses and steering a large Cadillac stocked with an 8mm pistol hidden in a small ice chest that rested on the front passenger seat. Ready for the ride and prepped for the worst, she never met a Texas Ranger she didn't like…or any man in uniform for that matter.

Our Margaret Ruth went by many other nicknames to different people over her long life. From her 1932 birth in Jacksonville, Texas, she was a daddy's girl and only child to Thomas E. "Gandy" Stevenson and Elaine "Money" Hackett Stevenson who lovingly called her "Midge". To her tall and proud, patent-holding Chemical Engineer husband of 52 years, Jacque D. "JD" Robinson she was known as "FM". To her children, she was known as the simpler, yet most meaningful label of any family: "Mama", including her eldest daughter, Ruth Ann "Sweet Little O" McCombs of League City, a now retired school teacher, her second-born daughter, Mary Elizabeth "Sissie" Shipley of Fort Smith, a god-fearing Southern matriarch in her own right, and her son, the too-soon-departed Tom "Duke" Robinson, elite high school baseball athlete, hunter, and fisherman and forever missed heart and soul of the family. To her grandchildren, Shannon Lynn McCombs of Austin, Educator and Writer, Shelley Anne Bernis of Austin, Speech Language Pathologist, Meredith Elaine Johnston of Houston, Educator, and Reid Shipley of Tulsa, Financial Advisor, she was known as "Granny". She is additionally survived by seven great grandchildren. Shelley's Wesley Thomas and Jace Jaxon, Meredith's Parker and Reagan, and Reid's Reid Jr., Hugh, and Hank.

It is not out of lack of admiration that we note the significant others of Margaret's brood last, but rather it is out of reverence for the many eras of Margaret's life they have indeed bore witness to in sickness and in health, having known her the longest next to her own surviving children and grandchildren. She held her children's and grandchildren's spouses and partners close and treated them as if they were her own blood: Gerald McCombs (husband to Ruth Ann), Frank Shipley (husband to Mary), Warren Bernis (husband to Shelley), Eric Johnston (husband to Meredith), Margo Shipley (wife to Reid), and Jesse Midkiff (Shannon's).

You see, to know Margaret Ruth, was to know her people…and her people's people. That's why this obituary is as full of others' names as much as her own because her story is our story. And the many chapters of our collective decorated and accomplished lives is her legacy, celebrated herein and forevermore.

For all of her admirers, friends, and family, a graveside visitation and celebration will be held from 10-11am followed by an 11am graveside service at the Confederate Cemetery in Alvin, Texas on Saturday, October 12th, 2024. It is her request that attendees wear red in solidarity and celebration of her bright and vivacious spirit as we honor the assembly of her soul with her husband and her son.

We love you, Mama. We love you, Granny. Life won't be the same without your voice and energy. Rest in Heavenly Bedazzled Glory.

For those interested in honoring her life by contributing to her favorite charity, please consider a donation to Samaritan's Purse International Relief at www.samaritanspurse.org.

Genealogy Note: In respect for Margaret and JD's deep interest and years of research in genealogical archives and for the purpose of legacy, print records, and future generational interest, extensive genealogy documentation on the Robinson, Stevenson, Hackett, and Ward lines is currently held by Shannon McCombs of Austin, Texas at the time of this printing.

A graveside service will be held Saturday, October 12, 2024 at 10:00 AM at Confederate Cemetery in Alvin, Texas.

Arrangements under the direction of the Scott Family, 1421 East Hwy 6, Alvin, Texas 77511, (281) 585-1000 www.scottfuneralhome.net