Cecil L. Robertson, 73 of O’Fallon, Missouri, passed away on Tuesday, February 16, 2021 at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri with his wife by his side.

The son of Clarence Jr. and Marjory (Cowan) Robertson, he was born April 1, 1947 in Kirksville, Missouri. On December 22, 1968 he was united in marriage to Deta C. Buress at the Brashear United Methodist Church.

Cecil is survived by his wife; brother and sister-in-law, Craig and Belinda Robertson; brother-in-law, Tim Kellison; sisters-in-law, Anna Eagen and Ute Buress; along with many nieces and nephews.

Preceding Cecil in death are his parents; Clarence and Marjory Robertson; sister Cathy Kellison; brothers Criss and Carroll Robertson; brothers-in-law, Ernest Eagen and Richard Buress.

Cecil grew up and attended high school in Brashear, Missouri, graduating in 1965. He was active in 4-H and Methodist Youth Fellowship (MYF). He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics with a minor in Education at Truman State University (Northeast Missouri University) in Kirksville, Missouri. Cecil earned a Master of Science Degree in Systems Management from the University of Southern California.

Cecil worked as a Systems Analyst for McDonnell Douglas Corporation in St Louis, MO before joining the US Army in 1970 serving in the Washington DC area as a Computer Programmer in the Army Security Agency. He was honorably discharged in 1973.

Cecil continued working in computer programming and support as a civilian in the Washington area before moving back to Missouri in 1977. He continued in the Computer field in more and more responsible positions including heading the St Louis Office for a computer hardware company.

During the 1980s, Cecil was self-employed in Investment Real Estate before returning to his true love, teaching. He took many steps in teaching before he became part of the Math and Computer Science Department, Webster University, in Webster Groves, Missouri. Cecil taught at Webster University for 28 years and upon his death he was an Adjunct Full Professor. He taught hundreds of students. He particularly treasured the last few years of teaching on-line classes. He taught students across the country and around the world. He loved the interaction and encouragement he could offer his students who sometimes were in very unique places and circumstances including active duty military members. He taught until a week before his death.

If Cecil was not teaching classes, he was often taking classes. In the late 1990s, he took a class in chair making and it became a passion. He constructed many types of furniture, but the favorite was the continuous arm Windsor chair, a style was first made in 1790. Cecil loved to acknowledge he could build a Windsor chair completely by hand with no electricity - from felling the tree to using hand tools to fashion the chair through to the final chair finish - but these days he did love his power tools! He won several awards for his chairs. Running true to form, Cecil started teaching classes on Windsor chair making to a few students each year. He took great pleasure in seeing his classes open up a new world to his students, many of which went on to become excellent woodworkers. Cecil won awards for his chairs and was a juried artist with Best of Missouri Hands. Cecil is a member of many organizations dedicated to woodworking or the study of wood.

Cecil and Deta lived the last 29 years on a few acres in St Charles County, Missouri. They named it Reflection Valley. Cecil had his woodshop and both enjoyed vegetable, herb and flower gardening. They were able to work with a neighbor and the Missouri Conservation Department in dedicating a few acres of ground to be turned into a monarch butterfly habitat.

Visitation will be on Sunday, February 28, 11:00 am – 1:30 pm. Funeral service will be held at 1:30 p.m. at Travis-Noe Funeral Home. Burial following in Park View Memorial Gardens with military honors. The family would appreciate face coverings and social distancing observed.

Pallbearers will be Tyler Schneiderheinze, Ben Schneiderheinze, Kyle Bower, Keanan Kite, Kaleb Caldwell and Cy McConnell.

Flowers are appropriate or memorials in the memory of Cecil to Washington University Oncology which may be given to Deta or left or mailed to Travis-Noe Funeral Home, P.O. Box 306, Kirksville, MO 63501. These memorials will be used for Small Cell Lung Cancer Research. Or feel free to contribute anywhere you see a need.