Memories of Mom
Martell Roberts
March 15, 1926 - September 6, 2023
It's hard to capture a person's life in just a few pictures.
Mom died at the age of 97. Most of her life is undocumented due
to a lack of digital photography plus just taking life for
granted. With the help of my sister, Lynne, I have assembled a
few pictures that roughly show her life.
Mom, Francis Martell Sorenson, was born March 15, 1926. She had a
younger sister, Marian, who preceded Mom in death.
Mom, about 1927.... Mom and Marian, about 1936
Mom, Senior High School, about 1944 .... Martell Sorenson and Edward
Roberts, Wedding Portrait, July 11, 1947
Roberts Family Portrait, Martell, Edward, Lynne, Anne, and Gayle, 1957
In the early 1960s, Mom bought two Yorkies -- Angel and Amber, and
the
family's life changed forever. Mom had found her passion --
breeding and raising dogs. She established Robtell Kennels,
breeding Yorkshire Terriers. From that point on, Mom bred and/or
owned German Shephards, Rottweilers, Doberman Pinschers, Great Danes,
Brussels
Griffons, Long Coat Chihuahuas, Afghan Hound, Maltese, Corgis, Lhasa
Apsos, Smooth Fox Terrier, and Greyhounds.
Mom at the beginning, 1966
Mom named her kennel after Dad (Roberts) and herself (Martell).
The
name changed from Rob-Tell to RobTell to Robtell. She bred some
of the highest quality yorkshire terriers in the country.
Mom was a puppy lover and kitten lover and loved having lots and
lots of animals. She at one point even had a huge cage of
parakeets
and finches and a lot of rescue cats along with all of the dogs.
Anne, Martell, Lynne, Gayle, 1970 .... Gayle, Edward, Craig, Lynne,
Grandma (Fran Noble), Martell, Anne, 1973.
Mom did really well with her Robtell Yorkies. For the most part,
she hired professional handlers to show her dogs. This is a rare
picture of her showing Quaid in 1993.
Dad and Mom, December, 1993
After Mom quit raising dogs, she still had them in her life. Mom enjoyed spending a lot of time on her computer. She started rescuing former racing Greyhounds.
Mom, March 2003 .... Mom and some of her Greyhounds, 2008
Mom, 2009 .... Mom, August 13, 2008
Lynne, Mom and Dazzie, Gayle, July, 2015 .... Mom, Dazzie, Maggie, and
Santa, December, 2016
Mom and Dazzie, August 31, 2017.... Mom and Lynne going to Thornton,
CO. so Mom could see it, June, 2018
Mom on her 93rd birthday (I love this one of her smiling), March 15,
2019 .... Gayle, Lynne, Mom, March 2021
Mom and Lynne on Mom's 97th birthday. This is the last picture I
have of Mom. Soon after this, her dementia overtook her.