Erma Louise “Robbie” Sikes (known to many as “Mama Sikes”), age 97, was welcomed by the host of heaven on the evening of Dec. 20, 2025, from her home in York, NE. A woman who openly and joyfully lived her life for Jesus (Romans 8:9). Robbie exemplified Christianity in every facet of life, trusting God in all circumstances, and through her flowed the fruits of His Spirit. Her advice was always based on scripture and prayer. She was an angel without wings.
Erma Louise was born May 16, 1928, in Carlsbad, NM, to Charley and Pearl (Moore) Robertson. She was the youngest of 3 girls. She was a proficient violinist and during her high school years she traveled by train to give violin lessons to others. One of her claims to fame was she took violin lessons with Edgar Mitchell (who was the 6th man to walk on the moon in 1971). After high school, Louise attended Eastern New Mexico University where she changed her name to “Robbie,” not to be confused with the other girls in her dorm with the name Louise. This is also where she met the love of her life Walter Jack Sikes, and they were married on December 30, 1947. Jack & Robbie had 65 wonderful years together before he passed in 2013.
Robbie served by her husband’s side for 35 years of childcare working at 4 different children’s homes where Jack served as the superintendent at New Mexico Christian Children’s Home in Portales, NM, campus manager at Tipton Home in Tipton, OK, superintendent at Westview Boys Home in Hollis, OK, and superintendent at Cornhusker Children’s Home in Culbertson, NE. Robbie took on various roles to meet demanding needs: doing laundry, cooking, haircuts (for all the children), accountant, office manager, choir director (she had an amaErma Louise “Robbie” Sikes (known to many as “Mama Sikes”), age 97, was welcomed by the host of heaven on the evening of Dec. 20, 2025, from her home in York, NE. A woman who openly and joyfully lived her life for Jesus (Romans 8:9). Robbie exemplified Christianity in every facet of life, trusting God in all circumstances, and through her flowed the fruits of His Spirit. Her advice was always based on scripture and prayer. She was an angel without wings.
Erma Louise was born May 16, 1928, in Carlsbad, NM, to Charley and Pearle (Moore) Robertson. She was the youngest of 3 girls. She was a proficient violinist and during her high school years she traveled by train to give violin lessons to others. One of her claims to fame was that she took violin lessons with Edgar Mitchell (who was the 6th man to walk on the moon in 1971). After high school, Louise attended Eastern New Mexico University where she changed her name to “Robbie,” not to be confused with the other girls in her dorm with the name Louise. This is also where she met the love of her life Walter Jack Sikes, and they were married on December 30, 1947. Jack & Robbie had 65 wonderful years together before he passed in 2013.
Robbie served by her husband’s side for 35 years of childcare working at 4 different children’s homes where Jack served as the superintendent at New Mexico Christian Children’s Home in Portales, NM, campus manager at Tipton Home in Tipton, OK, superintendent at Westview Boys Home in Hollis, OK, and superintendent at Cornhusker Children’s Home in Culbertson, NE. Robbie took on various roles to meet demanding needs: doing laundry, cooking, haircuts (for all the children), accountant, office manager, choir director (she had an amazing tenor voice), and houseparent.
Thousands of children and adults have been forever affected and changed by the heart and service of Mama Sikes. All 13 of Jack and Robbie’s children attended York College (now University) in York, NE. Jack and Robbie were honored as Parents of the Year by the college in 1973, and with the inaugural YC Legacy Award in 2012. They retired from childcare work in 1991. Robbie authored multiple “Know Your Bible by Droodles” books and spoke at Christian college lectureships and ladies’ day meetings. She was the model of hospitality and was known for the saying, “Always room for one more.”
Robbie is survived by all her children, their spouses, and 128 of 132 grandchildren/great grandchildren. Her children and their spouses: Joyce (Don) Lacek of Oklahoma City, OK, Stacy (Carol) of Maplewood, MN, Sharon (Pete) Disterlic of Castle Rock, CO, Stephen (Patti) of Rochester, MN, Sharla (Kent) Marcum of Indiahoma, OK, Stanten (Colleen) of Buena Vista, CO, Shelly (Derryl) Morgan of Spring, TX, Shawna (Brian) Bailey of Wolverine Lake, MI, Sherena (John) Langley of Andover, KS, Stewart (Dawn) of York, NE, Steddon (Brenda) of York, NE, Shanon (Dane) Tate of Holland, MI, and Stafford (Jen) of Lincoln, NE. Robbie is preceded in death by her parents, her sisters: Lorraine and Marjorie, her husband Jack, and her grandchildren: Andrea Langley, Jeana Marcum, Jessica Sikes, and Robert Lacek.
A celebration of life service is scheduled for March 14, 2026, at 10:30 am at the East Hill Church of Christ in York, where Robbie was a longtime member. The service will be live-streamed on the church’s facebook page. Memorials may be directed to The Jack and Robbie Sikes “Springs of Living Water” Community Center in Quito, Ecuador. Make checks payable to Southwest Church of Christ with “Springs of Living Water” in the memo line and send to: Southwest Church of Christ, 1635 S Pueblo Blvd, Pueblo, CO 81008; York University, 1125 E 8th St, York, NE 68467; or Solace Orphanage International, Nigeria (you can donate through their website: www.solaceorphanage.