Robin Adair Deck, 81, died April 7, 2022 in San Antonio, Texas after a valiant battle with health issues. A Herrin, Illinois native, she was born December 27, 1940 in Springfield, IL to Harry W. and Ruby Kathryn Jones Deck where her father worked for John L. Lewis.
She was a l958 graduate of Herrin High school, a theater major and a 1962 graduate of Northwestern University. She taught school in Guam for four years after graduation. She worked for U. S. congressman Raymond Clevenger (D-MI) in the l960's in Washington, D. C. She was an associate staff member for House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense for Rep. Jack Edwards (R-AL) from l980 to l985 in Washington, D.C. Edwards was Minority Leader of the Subcommittee on Defense Appropriations.
She then joined the staff, as a Counselor, of the Legislative Affairs President Ronald Reagan's Blue Ribbon Commissions on Defense Management at The White House, informally known as the Packard Commission, chaired by David Packard, co-founder of Hewlett-Packard and a former US. Deputy Secretary Defense under President Richard Nixon. From l987-l989, she was Defense Lobbyist with Rhett Dawson, Staff Director of the Commission. During her tenure in Washington she appeared on stage in numerous plays including a performance at The Kennedy Center.
After leaving Washington D.C. in l989 she moved to Key West, Florida which would be her home until a move back to her native Herrin in 2018. She appeared in a variety of plays at The Red Barn Theater, Tennessee Williams Fine Arts Center and the Waterfront in Key West, and received theatrical awards for her work as an actor and singer. Among her community interests she served as Secretary for Protect Key West and The Florida Keys, Inc. She was a member of Last Stand, a political action group, that sought to save Key West from over development. She was self -employed at the Pier House Beach Front Resort.
Robin returned home to Herrin in the 1980s for special appearances as one of the first female native Herrinites in the Patron Series programs at The Herrin Civic Center as a solo performer, and a Guest Speaker at the annual Herrin Chamber of Commerce dinner.
She moved back to Herrin and lived at Villas of Holly Brook before moving to San Antonio, Tx in 2021. Robin's life from start to finish was a life of adventure, from her congressional staff career, to the stage where she felt most at home, and her love of travel, politics, books and conversations with friends. She was open to life, and lived each day as if it were her last. Her journey will continue now among the infinite stars and cloudless sky.
Survivors include cousins Patricia Chamness, Thousand Oaks, CA, Julie Everett, Ashville, NC, Teresa Kaeser, Ashville, NC, Mike Jones -- Naples, FL, Nancy Jones Fernandez, Minneapolis, MN, and Patrick Jones, Carmel Valley, CA, as well as closed friends Rev. Jerry Anderson, formerly of California, Herrin, Jeanette and Matt Williams, her longtime caretaker, her special love Jasmine Rae Brookmeyer, daughter of Dewey and Kali Brookmeyer, Herrin, friends in Herrin, Key West and New York, and her dearest companion, Dr. Wic Winters of Boerne, TX.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Harry W. and Ruby Kathryn (Jones) Deck, uncle and aunt Orville W. and Maybelle Lyerla, maternal grandparents, Ralph and Lora (Kilbreath) Jones and paternal grandparents, William Allen and Oma (Lipe) Deck, uncle and aunt, Col. Robert and Laura Jones, cousin, Jay Yandell
A Celebration of Life will be held at The Hartley Art Gallery and Event Center, 500 South Park Avenue, Herrin at 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 5, 2022, with Rev. Jerry Anderson. Memorials may be made to Red Barn Theater, 707 West, Key West, Florida, 34041 Att/ Robin Deck Memorial. Burial will be private. For information contact (949) 412-0666.
