Biography:

Surrounded by her family and close friends, Marylee Lasley Hoover Robinson, 81, of Little Rock, AR left this earth and was reunited in heaven with her late husband, Dan on Friday, September 12, 2025. Marylee was born on May 3, 1944, in Battle Creek, MI, to the late Dr. Paul Williams Hoover, Sr. and Mary Elizabeth Lasley Hoover. The Hoover family lived in Battle Creek while Dr. Hoover served in the United States Army as Chief of Surgery at Percy Jones Army Hospital during World War II. After the War ended, the Hoovers returned to Little Rock in 1945.

Graduating from Hall High School in 1962, with her signature ponytail hair style, Marylee was a proud member of the varsity Hall High Warrior cheerleading squad where for the first (and only) time in her life she did the splits, which was a requirement to make the squad. Marylee first attended college at William Woods College in Fulton, MO.  She then transferred to the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and became a second-generation member of the founding Psi chapter of Chi Omega Fraternity.  Following graduation from the U of A in 1966 with a degree in education, she embarked upon her early teaching career in Memphis, TN. After teaching for a year in Memphis, she moved back to Little Rock where she met and married her late husband, Dan Reuben Robinson, II. At downtown Little Rock’s First United Methodist Church, Marylee and Dan were married with the groom’s father, Rev. Dan Reuben Robinson officiating. Their marriage was one to be envied, lasting 53 years until the time of Dan’s death in October 2022.

Marylee and Dan first settled in Little Rock in a small yellow home on Evergreen Street, eventually moving to Longfellow Lane where they raised their 3 boys. Marylee was an elementary school teacher teaching at McDermott Elementary. After more than a decade of staying at home to mother their three sons, Marylee obtained her master’s degree in education and returned to teaching at Forest Park Elementary School and then at Williams Magnet Elementary School teaching primarily in the gifted and talented program. Forever the teacher, she ensured all of her grandkids (and even adult children from time to time) always knew how to use “proper grammar” always correcting the mis use of “I” or “me” in a sentence. Marylee had a great love of reading and always had a book going while frequently visiting and using the Fletcher Public Library as her source for her next book. Her joy of reading has been passed on to her grandchildren who accompanied her on her many visits to the library.    
Marylee loved her family, and she rarely missed a sporting event, school play, birthday, graduation, baptism, engagement party, or other important gathering in support of her children, grandchildren, extended family members and close friends. She even recently traveled to Denver, CO, and Dallas, TX, to attend the initiation of her great niece into the Chi Omega Fraternity.

Marylee was always one whose first instinct was kindness. Leading always with a kind word, Marylee met everyone with her signature and award-winning smile. She had one of those genuine smiles that made her eyes sparkle and could put anyone immediately at ease. A dear friend once said, “Marylee just greets everyone with such enthusiasm and those wonderful smiling eyes.”  

Marylee was vivacious, happy, enthusiastic, and no matter who you were, she loved visiting with and getting to know you. Marylee wanted to genuinely learn about you and know your story; and, if you hung around long enough, she would share hers.  To say she loved people was an understatement. She cherished her travels and time with her “Birthday Group”, her Chi Omega sisters, her Mahjong group, the Fathomers Group at Pulaski Heights Methodist Church, her Book Club and many other dear friends.

Marylee was a Master Gardner and loved planting and sustaining numerous plants and flowers. On most days she could be seen alongside her faithful dog, Callie, working in her garden in front of her home, stopping often to visit with walkers, neighbors, and friends. Marylee was a wonderful mother, aunt, sister-in-law, and was a “first ballot hall of famer” as a grandmother. Known as “MeMe” to her seven grandchildren, she always made it a point to spend one-on-one time with each of them and enjoyed spoiling them with special treats and outings. Forever the cheerleader, she was a natural and gifted encourager, genuinely expressing how truly gifted and special someone was. In the final decade of her husband’s life, where he endured a number of physical health challenges, she met and exceeded mark of loving wife and caregiver. She rarely asked for help and took on most every challenge associated with his care with a grace, determination, and grit few possess.

Marylee was preceded in death by her husband Dan R. Robinson II, her parents, Dr. Paul Hoover and Mary Lasley Hoover, and her brother, Paul Williams “Pete” Hoover, Jr. She is survived by her three sons and their spouses: Dan Reuben Robinson, III and Linda, Lee Gatewood Robinson and Susan, and Gain Lasley Robinson and Donna. Marylee also is survived by her seven grandchildren: Sam Cooper Robinson, Katherine Lee Robinson (“Kate”), Stratton Wyatt Robinson, Leighton Lasley Robinson, Dan Reuben Robinson, IV (”Q”), Micaela Lucia Tovar Robinson (“Mica”), and Barrett Hazel Robinson. Additionally, Marylee is survived by her brother and sister-in-law, Willis and Karis Robinson Alderson; her sister-in-law, Barbara Josephine Rogers Hoover; her nephews Roger Alderson and Michael Alderson; her “favorite” niece and spouse, Dr. Daniel and Josephine Lasley Hoover Felton; and her great-nieces Catherine Josephine Felton and Mary Eleanor Felton. 

A memorial service honoring Marylee’s life will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, September 19, 2025, at Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church, 4823 Woodlawn Dr., Little Rock, AR, with a reception to follow immediately in the gathering hall.  

The family requests that any memorials desired to be given in Marylee’s honor be directed to Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church, 4823 Woodlawn Drive, Little Rock, AR 72205, or to the Chi Omega Fraternity, Psi Chapter, 940 W. Maple, Fayetteville, AR 72701 in honor of Marylee Hoover Robinson.  Arrangements are under the direction of RuebelFuneralHome.com