Robin Denise Gibbons, formerly of Harrisburg
Robin Denise Gibbons, 71, of Blue Springs, Mo., passed away at the University of Kansas Medical Center on Jan. 4, 2025, after a short illness.
Born in Peoria, Illinois, April 18, 1953, to William Paul and Elizabeth Pauline Gibbons, Robin grew up in Harrisburg and graduated from Harrisburg High School in 1971. She attended Bradley University and Southern Illinois University before earning her bachelor’s degree from William Jewell College and subsequently her master’s degree from the University of Central Missouri.
Upon graduation from William Jewel, Robin worked as an accountant and earned her certificate as a certified public accountant. After her children were born, Robin pivoted careers, and took classes to become a licensed teacher in Missouri. This signaled the beginning of her career as an elementary school librarian. Robin had a passion for education and especially librarianship.
For 18 years, Robin shared her passion for stories with countless students, working in both the Hickman Mills and Belton school districts. Robin served as a member of the Mark Twain Committee, helping to steer younger readers toward the best in children’s literature. She was an active member of the Missouri Association of School Librarians. Upon retirement from teaching elementary school in 2014, Robin realized her lifelong dream of teaching at the collegiate level as adjunct professor at the University of Central Missouri, mentoring interns and practicum students in library science. In that role she harnessed her years of experience to help shape the next generation of school librarians. Simultaneously she held a part-time position at MidContinent Public Library in Blue Springs, Mo.
When she wasn’t teaching, Robin loved to travel and did so extensively, particularly to the Bahamas, which she visited every year with her friends. She absolutely adored the ocean, especially seahorses. She also enjoyed live theater and took annual trips to New York City to experience the best that Broadway had to offer. And on Saturdays and Sundays it was football. She could often be found cheering on Mizzou or the Kansas City Chiefs.
Robin married Russell Honley in the fall of 1983 in Las Vegas, a city that became a favorite vacation destination throughout their 41-year marriage. Together, they raised two children, William (Will) and Mary Elizabeth (Mary Beth) Honley, to whom Robin was especially devoted. She never missed a hockey game, Special Olympics event or personal milestone.
In addition to her husband and children, Robin is survived by her brother Mark Gibbons and his wife Janice, niece Traci Rann and husband Jim, niece Blair Gibbons, aunt Helen Gibbons Holt, cousin Glenda Raikes and husband Jim, cousin Bill Holt, daughter-in-law April Maguire, sister-in-law Lorna Anderson and brother-in-law Charley Brown, along with several beloved nieces and nephews and many, many friends. At Robin’s request, there will be no memorial service. Donations may be made to the Harrisburg District Library or Special Olympics, Lee’s Summit, Mo., in her honor.