Mary Lou Robeson

June 26, 1930 - March 22, 2014

Mary Lou Robeson (aka Mary Lou Thomas/Salas), 83, passed away on Saturday, March 22, 2014, at Queen of the Valley Medical Center due to complications from an open-heart surgery performed in December. She had been a resident of Napa for past 48 years. She was born in Braden, Oklahoma. The family relocated to Oakland, California where she grew up and graduated from Oakland Technical Senior High School. She married and settled in Dublin, California, then relocated to the beautiful Napa Valley in 1966, with her late husband L.D. Thomas and daughter Vicki. They lived on 3.5 acres, raising chickens, pigs, cowsGreen Acres was their place to be! She loved to sew, crochet and enjoyed gardening, canning, growing gladiola and African violets. In all of her spare time, she took up painting with oils and watercolors. She loved photography; had an eye for just-the-right angle and claimed it was a God-given gift that she was so glad she stumbled upon! She played bocce ball, bowled and was known to visit Twin Pines Casino from time to time. Mary Lou was an Avon lady, Amway sales person, long-time realtor and mortgage loan officer. She retired at age 78 and decided to go to cosmetology school to obtain her license. Mary Lou's new profession not only provided pedicures and manicures to assisted-living residents but she soon became their trusted friend, confidant, who brought heart-felt hugs and home-baked cookies along with nail polish and soothing lotions. Mary Lou's clients became her extended family. In August 2011, Mary Lou met Arthur Robeson and they tied the knot in October. She loved cooking for Arthur and they discovered the many wonderful wines of Napa Valley together. Their time together was all too short. She is survived by her husband, Arthur Robeson, her daughter Vicki (Thomas) McCartney of Rohnert Park, CA, granddaughter Amber McCartney of Santa Rosa, CA, step-granddaughter Tasha Jackson of San Angelo TX, sister Jo Johnson of Dublin, CA and nieces Sandi, Janice, Sunshine, Debbie, Jeanne and Judy. Mary Lou was preceded in death by her parents, Robert Randolph Knight and Celia Jane Wackerly-Knight-White, brothers George, Ernest, Delmo "Dale", Julius "Duke", Bob, her sisters Betty Jean and Modean. Mary Lou was a loving Mother, Wife, Noner, friend; an energetic force, feisty, and loved by many. She will be greatly missed. Memorial services will be held on Saturday, March 29, at 11:00 a.m. at Napa Valley Baptist Church, 2303 Trower Ave., Napa.