Ellen Robina (Young) Mitchum

Ellen Robina "Robin" (Young) Mitchum passed away on March 24, 2024, in Rio Communities, New Mexico, at the age of 96. Robin was born on October 13, 1927, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, to Andrew Russell Waters Young and Olive Eliza Young. She had a younger brother, Ian Young.

Robin married Jerry William Blackshaw in Montreal on July 29, 1949. They had one daughter, Sandra Robina, and later divorced. On March 3, 1954, Robin married Nesbit Ray Mitchum in Tarrant, Texas. Ray served in the U.S. Air Force, and their life together would take the family across the United States and Europe.

Robin and Ray first lived in Fort Worth, Texas, where their daughter Elisabeth Rae, known as Lisa, was born. Ray had already been transferred to Greenham Common Air Force Base in England, and the family soon followed. After three years in England, they moved to Plattsburgh, New York, a posting they chose in part because it brought Robin closer to her family in Montreal. During their eight years there, they enjoyed swimming, boating, and waterskiing on Lake Champlain.

A three-year posting to Hahn Air Base in Germany followed, offering many opportunities for travel and further nurturing Robin's lifelong love of seeing the world. After Ray retired from the Air Force, they eventually settled in Denver, Colorado, where they lived for about 25 years and Robin worked as a paralegal.

In retirement, Robin and Ray continued the adventurous life they loved, dividing their time between Castle Valley, Utah, near Moab, and Mulegé, Mexico, where they had a place on the beach. This was followed by a stint as gentleman farmers in Ray's hometown of Covington, Tennessee. Their travels eventually brought them to Rio Communities, New Mexico. Ray preceded Robin in death in 2005.

Robin was very well read and had a lifelong curiosity about the world, with a particular love of history, biographies, and books about travel. She put that interest into practice through the many places she visited. She also enjoyed playing bridge and watching tennis, especially Roger Federer. Blessed with a remarkable memory, Robin was the person her family turned to for answers long before there was Google - in many ways, she was their personal Google.

Robin is lovingly remembered by her daughters, Sandra Mahan and Lisa Carleton; her grandchildren, Warren Mahan and Alexandra Carleton; and her great-grandchildren, Devin Mahan, Paul Hunter, Theodore Hunter, and Annabelle Hunter.

Robin will be remembered for her intelligence, curiosity, adventurous spirit, and enduring love of learning. The knowledge she shared, the adventures she embraced, and the memories she created will remain with her family and friends.

Ellen's arrangements are being handled by the caring professionals at the Noblin Funeral Service Belen Chapel, where an online guest register is available at www.noblin.com

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