Merna Jo Hart Robinson, a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother, passed away peacefully on November 18, 2025 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. A private family inurnment service will be held at the First United Methodist Church in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Strode Funeral Home and Cremation is in charge of the arrangements.

Born in Coweta, Oklahoma on March 22, 1931 to Wilma Capps Hart and Johnie E. Hart, Merna Jo grew up in small Oklahoma towns where her parents were both educators. She remembered fondly her days spent on school grounds, especially the years at the 3-room school at Barnsdall 55 in Osage county. In the 1940s, the Hart family moved to Henryetta where Merna Jo graduated from high school in 1949. Throughout her school days, Merna Jo enjoyed sports, especially basketball and tennis. After high school, she attended Oklahoma A&M University, graduating in 1953 with a degree in education. Merna Jo met her husband of 64 years, Dave, while attending college where she was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma.

Merna Jo stayed active with KKG serving as treasurer of the alumni club. She thrived on participating with many organizations, including PEO, an investment club, several bridge groups, Meals on Wheels, and Antique Hunters. Her joy in antiquing and collecting was shared by her husband, and together they found special items during their many travels in the States and abroad. They had an especial fondness for acquiring Santa Claus figurines, which were featured in her festive holiday decorations. Although Merna Jo loved decorating and entertaining at home, she was equally comfortable cooking on a Coleman stove during frequent trips to national parks throughout the country. Her enthusiasm for spending time outdoors began with camping trips as a child and continued throughout her adult life. In addition to vacations spent throughout the United States, Merna Jo and Dave traveled to many foreign countries with multiple visits to their favorite locations in Scotland and England.

Merna Jo's active life included being a part of Stillwater First United Methodist Church where she was a member of the Charitus Sunday School class for 52 years. Merna Jo and Dave also enjoyed following their beloved Cowboy teams, particularly women's and men's basketball. Along with being a loyal and true Cowboy as an alumna, Merna Jo worked many years for the university in the Grants and Contracts Financial Administration department.

Merna Jo's warmth, interest in others, laughter, and dedication to her family and community will be missed by her family and friends.

She is preceded in death by her husband, David W. Robinson, and her sister, Jonetta Cates.

Those left to cherish her memory include son Scott and his wife Paula Robinson; daughter Jules (Julie) and her husband Walter Haster; son Jay and his wife Cathy Robinson; grandson Caleb and his wife Julie Robinson; granddaughter Abbey and her husband Matt Anson; grandson Graham and his wife Emily Robinson; great grandsons Brooks and Miles Robinson; nephew Byron and his wife Deidra Cates; niece Carlise and her husband Tim Nye; and niece Susan Indrebo as well as great nephews and nieces.

In lieu of flowers, donations are appreciated to the David & Merna Jo Robinson Undergraduate Forestry Scholarship sent to the OSU Foundation, 400 S. Monroe St., Stillwater, OK, 74074 or to Cimarron Region Young Life, PO Box 33176, Tulsa, OK, 74153 (giving.younglife.org with a designation to AF75 - Cimarron Region).

The family is grateful for the love and support shown to Merna Jo and wish to give a special thank you for the kind care provided by the staff at the Barnes House of Trinity Woods.