Robyn Russell Obituary

Robyn Russell 
1951 ~ 2023 
Torrey, Utah - Robyn died suddenly and unexpectedly June 17, 2023. 

Robyn was born July 24, 1951 to William Dell Russell and Vida Rae Russell in Salt Lake City, Utah. She is survived by sisters Renee, Rolayne, Andrea and brother Bill. 
Robyn was an English and Theater Major in college and went on earn a Masters Degree in Education. 
Over her almost 30 years in teaching, Robyn taught every grade from 2nd to college, but her favorite was 5th grade because the kids were still not very self conscious, were very curious, enjoyed learning and the curriculum was interesting. 

During her college years Robyn began to question her relationship with the LDS church. This was a part of her lifelong process of self discovery. 
When Robyn pulled away from the LDS church, it was an example of her life long determination to be honest with herself and the outside world about who she was. While it cost her some friends and created some pain in her family, everyone came to realize Robyn had not changed but was just being honest with herself and others. This courage to follow her own path was exemplified many times in her life. 

Another example was the man she chose to marry. She met David Hart as a fellow junior high teacher her first year out of college. She knew that he was married but when asked by a girl friend what kind of man she wanted to marry she pointed David out. What she did not know was that he and his wife were having an amicable divorce. Once Robyn found that out, she promptly called him on his birthday and suggested that she and a girlfriend could give him a birthday cake! They started dating the next week! 

In the 1993-4 school year Robyn and her husband took the year off from teaching and spent 5 months traveling around the world with backpacks. Their trip started in New York City with shows on Broadway then to Greece then a 5 day cruise around the Mediterranean ending in Turkey. From there it was 3 days in Singapore then to Thailand. From there they went to Ubud in Bali then spent 9 weeks camping in Australia and New Zealand- and finally a week on Moorea in French Polynesia. 

Robyn and David spent most fall and Easter school breaks camping, hiking and backpacking in Southern Utah. Many of those trips were spent in Capitol Reef National Park. When they retired they bought land just east of the park and built a home at what they called "The Reef". Robyn thought being so close to the park was great because she loved hiking on slick rock. 
Camping was an important part of their lives and some of that camping was 2 to 3 weeks, mid-summer, on their land in the mountains of Central Idaho. Robyn loved the contrast of the old growth forest to their high desert home in Utah. 

Robyn was an avid reader. Wherever she was she had some good books with her. She also loved music and played the piano and guitar and in High school sang in the Madrigals. 
Later in life she took up scuba diving. Her husband was an experienced diver and she often went snorkeling with him on his dive trips. But in 2014 when 4 of their closest friends decided to get certified, she joined in. Part of the final test was jumping in the water in full scuba gear. Robyn, who had NEVER jumped into any pool or body of water jumped into the biggest pool of water in the world, the Pacific Ocean! Robyn loved exploring the under-water world with David where they were often seen holding hands.

Robyn's love of animals, cats in particular, led her to become the first vice president of Color Country Animal Welfare, in Wayne County. She also enjoyed the many wild animals that live around her remote home. 

Robyn is greatly missed by her cats, her husband, family and many friends.