Violet Ann Robertson, former longtime Montclair resident most recently of Springfield, Missouri, died on April 26, 2009. She was 93.

Born on December 27, 1915 in Haskell, Oklahoma, Ms. Robertson grew up in the Muskogee area of the state and graduated from Muskogee High School.

Throughout her youth and young adulthood, Ms. Robertson belonged to the “Nightingale Quartet,” a singing group comprised of her and her sister and another sister duo. Representing a Christian sheet music publishing house, the 4 women traveled around the Midwest and performed for churches, civic organizations and other audiences.

After her first marriage, which ended in divorce but brought 4 daughters into the world, Ms. Robertson married again. Her second husband, Frank Alexander Robertson, adopted her daughters and the whole family traveled over Route 66 in 1947, heading for Los Angeles and “seeking the land of opportunity,” said her son, Farris Robertson.

Following the death of her husband in 1963, Ms. Robertson moved to Montclair.

For many decades, Ms. Robertson was a homemaker and an adoring and engaged mother—she was 21 when she had her first child of 9 children and age 44 when she had her last. 

“She doted over her children and looked after them, and that was her goal in life—to raise good, healthy children,” said her son, Farris Robertson. “She made sure that we came first, that we had what we needed to be successful in life.”

Her son noted, however, that she was “also a bit of pioneering woman” because she worked as she raised her children.

“At our house, mom was the coordinator, the provider. It was unbelievable to see a woman who had been widowed for that many years working that hard and raising a family,” said Farris Robertson, noting that one of her jobs was working in a hospital cafeteria. “She had some very tough days, but she always managed to keep a good attitude about it.”

From age 60 to age 85, Ms. Robertson lived at the Heritage Park Apartments for seniors in Montclair where she enjoyed visiting and conversing with fellow seniors. She also loved the beautiful view of the mountains from her home.

“When it wasn’t smoggy,” said her son.

In 2002, Ms. Robertson relocated to Missouri to live with family.

Ms. Robertson is survived by 7 of her 9 children, daughters Nina Gayle, Janet Kay, Carrol Ann, Margaret Christine and Patricia Lynn, and sons Donald Ray and Farris Dale; by her sister, Florence Laura Sankey; by her cousin, Ida Godley; by many nieces, nephews, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Frank A. Robertson; by her brothers, General Russell and Colonel Preston; by her sister, Helen Frances Cappellano; by her daughter, Wilma “Jean” Ackerson; and by her son, Fred Gary.

Private services will be held at Rose Hills Memorial Park in June.

Memorial donations may be made to the Christian Children’s Fund, www.christianchildrensfund.org.