Sue Robinson set the bar high at Fairview Center

In 1974 Carbondale realtor and management company owner John Cherry hand-picked Sue Robinson to manage his Fairview Nursing Center. He was confident of her ability and confident she would bring to Fairview the caring he was looking for.

That relationship lasted for 23 years, the longest tenure of any administrator at Fairview. She took care of Fairview all those years and for the past 34 days--until her death on Friday--Fairview took care of her. She passed away in the place she loved.

Her name was Carol Robinson, 77, but everyone knew her simply as "Sue"--Charles Robinson's wife and the mother of children Jeff, Doug and Brent Robinson.

The only reason she retired from Fairview was to take care of her husband when he became ill. He didn't want to go to a care center, so the only alternative was for her to do what she did best at their home.

Her husband died on Sept. 11, 2001, the same day as the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. It's easy for Jeff to remember.

Sue's death on Friday touched the lives of the four employees still there--near retirement themselves--who worked for her.

She was a strong woman who lined up firemen to bring staff members to work in their four-wheel drive trucks during some of the most treacherous ice and snow storms in Du Quoin's history.

Fairview was a family affair. "We would go out there and buff floors six out of the seven days and carry ice from Don Barrett's ice house when the ice machine broke," remembers son Jeff.

"She was good with the doctors and put everyone else first. She never met a stranger," Jeff said.

She was involved.

Sue was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Du Quoin, a graduate of SIU, a member of the Marshall Browning Hospital Auxiliary, Perry Co. Republican Womens Club, Perry Co. Home Extension, Red Hat Society, United Methodist Women, American Health Care Administrators Association and SIU alumni. Even a cub scout den mother.

She is survived by three sons - Jeff, Doug and Brent Robinson, four grandchildren - Connie Beth Robinson, Cameron Robinson, Caleb Robinson and Afton Robinson, one great-grandchild - Brooke Robinson, one special niece - Linda Upchurch and other nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 27, 2014 at the Searby Funeral Home in Du Quoin with Rev. Jarrett Wells officiating.

Friends may call from 5-8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 26, 2014 at the Searby Funeral Home in Du Quoin

Graveside services will be at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 27, 2014 at the Knights Prairie Cemetery in McLeansboro, Ill.

Burial will be at the Knights Prairie Cemetery in McLeansboro.

To this day people come up to tell Jeff, Doug and Brent how their mother cared for their family.

And, she certainly did.