Graydon "Grady" Robinson

Graydon "Grady" Robinson

1927 to 2014

Graydon "Grady" Robinson was born on Oct. 1, 1927 at Brandon, Neb. He was the oldest of 3  children born to Elmer and Leona Harshman Robinson. Graydon grew up in Brandon and attended Brandon School through the 6th grade. Graydon then attended school in Ogallala and graduated from Ogallala High School in 1945. After graduation, Grady joined the United States Navy and served on a combat aircraft carrier off the coast of Saipan at the end of World War II.

After his discharge he returned to Brandon. Graydon was married to Marjorie Southard on Jan. 13, 1947 at St. Francis, Kan. Three children were born to this union. They lived in Brandon and Grady worked at the Julesburg Sales Barn from 1949 until 1951 and later at the Ogallala Sales Barn.  He worked construction in Texas  for a year  and was part of the Iron Workers Union. They returned to Nebraska in 1953 and Graydon was busy farming, ranching, and working as a livestock auctioneer. In the mid 1960's Grady and Marjorie purchased the Grant skating rink and ballroom. It was renamed the Crescent Ball Room and the family hosted many dances and skating parties. With the addition of a restaurant, family entertainment became more of a focus. 

In the mid 1970's the Crescent was sold and Grady switched his focus to antique auctioneering and estate sales at the same time of maintaining the family farm in Brandon. Marjorie died in 1992 and Grady continued to maintain his home until his death. In later years he helped load unit trains with grain at the elevator in Venango. 

Grady was a member of the Grant American Legion. He had previously served on the Venango School Board. He enjoyed dancing, music, arrow head hunting, collecting and selling antiques, and refinishing antique furniture. He avidly followed his son Jerome in his professional bull riding career and loved to watch the PBR. He loved his family and enjoyed spending time with them.

Grady had come to Grant on Saturday night to eat supper and had finished his meal when he returned to his vehicle where he suffered an apparent heart attack. He was taken to the Perkins County Community Hospital where he was pronounced dead. He had reached the age of 86.

In addition to his wife, Graydon was preceded in death by a daughter, Marsha Robinson and his brother, Myron Robinson. 

He is survived by his son, Jerome and his wife Dorya of Ft. Collins and Ginger Robinson and her partner Kayla Olson of Salem Oregon; 1 granddaughter, Amy and her husband Steve Russ of Erie Colorado, 1 grandson- Riley Robinson-Moyer of San Francisco; 2 great grandchildren, Saylor and Bohdy Russ; his sister- Patty and her husband Vern Couch of Sidney; 3 nephews from the Couch family-Steve, Scott, and Gary and 1 niece- Shari Mintle; also a large and beloved extended family and man friends.

Cremation was chosen. A memorial service will be held on Thurs., March 13, 2014 at 10:30 a.m. at the Grant United Methodist Church with Pastor Nora Mendyk, officiating. Burial of cremains will be in the Grant Cemetery with a flag presentation by Perkins County Veterans. Bullock-Long Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Local friends may drop off condolences and sign a register book at the Gehrig-Stitt Chapel.