Robin Highfill

Robin Ann Highfill passed away at home on the morning of May 14th, 2020 from ovarian cancer. She was 65 years of age.

Robin was born in Richmond, Virginia on October 1st, 1954 to Dr. Robert E. and Dorothy Merritt. She was the second of two children. Her early childhood was spent living in Farmville, Virginia. At that time, integration of schools was being protested. She spent much of 3rd grade going to school in the basement of a church because public schools were closed. Wisely, her parents elected to move the family and relocated to Indiana, Pennsylvania. Her father was a professor of biology and her mother was also a teacher. Both parents instilled in her the importance of public education at a young age.

While in high school, her parents divorced. This experience instilled in her the importance of family.  She completed high school in 1972 and attended Indiana University of Pennsylvania graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in teaching in 1976. That summer she met her future husband Army 2nd Lieutenant William Highfill on a blind date. Lieutenant Highfill was the best man at a wedding she attended. She moved to Denver and they were married on June 4, 1977.

As the wife of an army physician, she moved to Honolulu, Hawaii when her husband graduated from medical school in 1979. There they had two children, Melissa Lee Highfill in 1979 and Thomas Merritt Highfill in 1982. The family then moved to Fort Benning, Georgia for three years, and then to Denver, Colorado where William completed his military career. In 1995, the family moved to Great Falls, Montana. They resided there until 2004 when they moved to Kalispell.

While formally trained as a teacher, she never taught full time and considered herself, a full-time mom. Her children were her number one priority and she was always active in the schools. She served as the president of the Medical Wives Alliance in Great Falls and was a member of the retired military wives group of the Flathead Valley.

She was first, foremost, and always a mom, and no one knew that more than her children. She never missed a soccer game, a swim meet, or a triathlon no matter the distance. Robin was the glue that will continue to hold the family together.

Her hobbies included knitting, hiking, traveling to the national parks, and kayaking. Having lived in Denver for 14 years she was an avid Broncos fan. After her son graduated from Gonzaga University, she became a devoted fan of their men’s basketball team.

She was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her husband William, her brother Thomas Merritt, her children Melissa and Thomas, and her granddaughter Olivia.

Due to the pandemic, no services are planned at this time. Information about a celebration of life will be provided at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to your local humane society, the Veteran’s Food Pantry of Kalispell or the American Cancer Society in her name. Her beautiful and giving soul will always be missed. Friends are encouraged to visit our website at www.buffalohillfh.com to leave notes of condolences for the family. Buffalo Hill Funeral Home and Crematory caring for the family.