Nancy S. Robinson

Born February 23rd, 1941 in Nevada, Iowa to Laurence and Helen (Gottschalk) Smith, Nancy died on June 26th, 2022 in Bellingham, WA due to cardiac arrest at the age of 81. She was preceded in death by her parents, brother, Laurence M. Smith, good friend and longtime housemate, Sharon Pearson, and her beloved dog, Nibs. Nancy is survived by her three children, Katherine Snow (Kevin), Judson Irish (Tina), and Juliann Irish (Sam Slee), son-in-law, Gavin Walker, her grandchildren, Hannah Huppi, Ellen Portillo, Ava Weston, Brooke Irish, Aurelia Gilmer, Satia Slee, Brynne Irish, and Mateo Gilmer, and her great-grandchildren, Clara, Lulu and Nico Portillo, Hazel Huppi, and Digby Weston. She has left behind many good friends including, but not limited to, Deni Christensen, William Whelan, Kenneth M. Snider, David and Janet BeMiller, Colleen Tafs, and Judy Hadel. Raised in Iowa, Nancy attended the University of Iowa and was member of the Delta Gamma Sorority. While an Iowa Hawkeye, she met and married medical student, Thomas J. Irish Jr., father of her three children. Tom and Nancy eventually settled in Tacoma, WA in 1971 and were divorced in 1974. During that time, Nancy completed her Bachelors of Political Science at University of Washington in Seattle. She later attended Pacific Lutheran University to complete her Master’s Degree where she met and married Larry R. Robinson. They moved to Chugiak, AK and, while later divorced, remained lifelong friends. Her working career included roles of Corrections Officer and Counselor for the Alaska jail system as well as that of Director of Project Choice of Pierce County Alliance, a program established to provide juvenile offenders with education and social support. Her favorite and final occupation was that of library clerk at Parkway-Spanaway Branch of Pierce County Libraries. As the daughter of trained educators and a school superintendent, mom loved books and was happiest when surrounded by them. Nancy was a lifelong learner, reader, and crafter. She has created many mosaic tile pieces that her friends and family will cherish. She loved and was so proud of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She was a loving and supportive mother and grandmother, witty and devoted friend, and a force to be reckoned with. She will be missed by many. Nancy has asked for no formal services, only that those she knew and loved eat well, drink decent wine, and remember the good times. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to Washington State Death with Dignity and Rescued Hearts Northwest. You may share memories at www.westfordfuneralhome.com .