Helen Marie “Pat” Black died Tuesday, November 20, 2007, in Broomfield, Colorado, at the age of 91.

Pat was born May 29, 1916, in Cranbrook, BC. Her father, Findlay Robson, was a native of Fenelon Falls, the grandson of Thomas Robson, who homesteaded in Baddow in 1863. Findlay was the third son of William Lithgow and Mary McDougall Robson of Fenelon Falls. Pat’s mother, Anna Crandell, was from Lindsay, the great-granddaughter of Reuben Crandell, the “first white settler in Reach Township”, who settled near Port Perry in 1821. Anna’s grandfather, Captain George Crandell, operated steamboats from Lake Scugog to Sturgeon Point over a period of 57 years until his death in 1904.

Findlay and Anna died of the influenza in 1918, leaving three young children. Pat was raised by her uncle and aunt, Harry and Sarah Robson, in Toronto, spending summers in the family cottage in Fenelon Falls. Pat’s older brother Fremont and his wife Chris, and younger sister Mary and her husband Don Fenton have predeceased her, as have her “cousin-brother” Donald Robson and his wife Rhena Kendrick Robson.

Pat was the loving wife of Merrill Black for 51 years. She leaves two children, Stanley Robson Black (wife Betsy) of Colorado, and Marilyn Dale Punke (husband Mike) of Maryland, as well as four grandchildren: Merrill and Matthew Punke, Susan Bean (husband Ken), and Douglas Robson Black. Jim Fenton of California is her devoted only nephew. She was the dear cousin of Douglas Robson Warren and his wife Dorothy, predeceased, and their son, Rob Warren of Fenelon Falls, as well as Jill Maxwell (nee Robson) of Oshawa. Close cousins on the Crandell side are Diana McGregor and Judith Barr of Thornbury. Pat is remembered fondly by her many true friends, especially in Lakewood, Colorado, and on Sugarbush Trail on Cameron Lake.

Memorial “homecoming” celebration will be held on Friday, December 28, 2007, 11:00 a.m. at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Fenelon Falls. Interment at Fenelon Falls Cemetery in the spring. In lieu of flowers, contributions to St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church are welcome. Online guestbook: www.legacy.com/denver/.