Sue Clare Robinson

Picture this; it’s 1933, in the dead of winter at a ranch in the Alberta foothills miles from power and plumbing. Trinky (later to be known as Little Grams) came in from the cold with a baby in a basket and set it on the wood stove to keep it warm. She announced that the baby was Clare. Granny (aka Margaret Robinson and the real Matriarch of the homestead) took one look. “She doesn’t look like a Clare. She looks like a Sue!” And that’s how Sue Clare Robinson was welcomed into the world on Jan 11, 1933.

Sue grew up on the meandering shores of Jumping Pound Creek southwest of Cochrane Alberta. Homesteading in the Canadian West was a wondrous way to grow up, babied till you’re two, maybe three then you better be pitching in. Sue and older brother Bob did just that, helping with the cows and horses, and in the kitchen and the barn. At the tender age of six, she hopped onto the saddle behind Bob and for the next five years they rode the horse through the creek and over to Clemons Hill school. There she learned her ABC’s, and about commerce, like trading her lard sandwich for Herbie’s squab sandwich. Yum! One of the teachers was a close friend of the family. On the first day Sue said, “Hi Claudie Auddie!” but she was firmly told it’s “Mrs. Edge” at school. Around this time her dad (Sykes Robinson) decided he was more useful helping the war effort than working on the ranch and rodeoing, so he hung up his spurs for a while and went off to war. He spent the better part of five years overseas and on his return, there were more machines and less hands needed on the ranch, so the family moved into Cochrane where Sue grew up and finished school.

Sue trained to be a nurse at the Holy Cross Hospital in Calgary, a time when she made lifelong friends. One day a handsome cowboy came in, looking for his date who was nowhere around. “Will I do?” said Sue. And Do she did! Sue married that cowboy, Bill Wearmouth, in 1954. In the next seven years, she would bring five children into the world. SueAnne Wearmouth, Dan Wearmouth (Vicki), Patti Belbin (Dale), Jeff Wearmouth (Joanne), Greg Wearmouth (Shelley). And in turn became the grandma for 12 and great gran for five, and great, great for one.

This was a busy house. Raising five kids (no disposable diapers or microwaves then) and during that time Sue supported Bill in building up Wearmouth Demolition from a farm-kids business to the largest demolition company in Western Canada. That didn’t seem to fill her days enough, so she ran for and was elected to the Calgary Catholic School Board as a trustee for nine years. Some of the implementations that she helped bring into the schools are still in practise today.

Sue and Bill went though a lot together, but after twenty rousing years, Bill decided to move on. Sue was shattered but life went on. After getting the kids though school and university, Sue continued with her career working in dress shop retail in Calgary. She really had a flair and enthusiasm for helping women look their best, something she continued to do well into her eighties.

Sue lived in Calgary until 2017 then moved back to Cochrane to the Bethany Centre. There she could be seen in the halls always dressed spiritedly for a visitor or occasion. Only in the last year did her health degrade enough to move back to Calgary. At the Bethany Extended Care facility in Calgary she would compliment the staff, especially those that dressed smartly.

Did she bake? Son Jeff recalls taking chocolate cake to school most days and often traded it for whatever he commanded. A few of the grandkids recently tried to count how many bananas “Grandma Sue” went through weekly when she made her banana loaves – with heaps of chocolate chips of course.

Was she crafty? She darned everyone’s socks for years till the kids complained the heels were lumpy. Many grandkids cabbage patch dolls were decked out in hand knit sweaters. Ripped jeans, curling collars and lost buttons were no match for Sue.

Never one to not appreciate a good Alberta sunset, after 34,204 sunrises, Sue passed away. She is survived by family all mentioned above. Sadly, she was pre-deceased by her granddaughter Josie and her daughter SueAnne.

All friends and family are invited to come reminisce and play “who is that?” while we look through her photo albums from 1 – 4 pm, Oct 25, 2026, at the Jumping Pound Community Hall. 44208 Township Road 250.