Robin Anne Riat, 54, of Belton, Missouri, passed away April 8, 2024, after a short illness.
She was born on February 11, 1970, in Abilene, Kansas, the daughter of Marilyn Kay Copeland Riat and Lawrence Dean Riat. She grew up in Abilene and graduated from Abilene High School with the class of 1988. She earned an undergraduate degree from William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri, a master’s degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, a master’s degree from Friends University in Wichita, Kansas, and was pursuing a degree from Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut.She worked as a librarian for universities, private companies, and government agencies and most recently worked as a records management analyst, trainer and instructional developer for the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration in Kansas City, Missouri.
Robin enjoyed genealogy and family history and compiled an online index to early 20th century newspapers from Skidmore, Missouri, her mother’s hometown. She also enjoyed reading, music, feeding the birds and squirrels, visiting with friends, and caring for cats, including Maggie, Cleo, and most recently, Millie.
She is survived by her father, Larry Riat of Chapman, Kansas; her aunt Lois (Charles) Deyoe of Manhattan, Kansas, her aunt Linda (Bill) Crutcher of Stillwater, Oklahoma, her aunt Patricia Copeland of Noblesville, Indiana, and her uncle Herb Anderson of Glen Ellyn, Illinois, her uncle Robert D. Riat of Wamego, Kansas. She is also survived by her cousin, Ann Copeland of Las Vegas, Nevada; her cousin, Lea (Scott) Bishop of Carmel, Indiana and children Matthew of Zionsville, Indiana and Morgan of Cary, North Carolina; her cousin David (Marsha) Copeland of Excelsior Springs, Missouri, and many friends. She was preceded in death by her mother, Marilyn Copeland Riat, and her aunt Margaret Copeland Anderson. Her uncle, Mervyn “Mickey” Copeland also passed away April 8, 2024.
Graveside services are planned for Saturday, April 20, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at the Abilene Cemetery near her mother.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Abilene High School Endowment Association and may be sent in care of the Martin-Becker-Carlson Funeral Home, 414 NW 3rd, Abilene, Kansas 67410.