Cheryl Ann Robie Tarrant, formerly of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, passed away September 12, 2026. She and her husband, Pitt Tarrant moved to Dothan, Alabama where they have lived since 2015. Preceding her were her parents Don and Marie Robie formerly of Erie and Meadville Pennsylvania (respectively), maternal grandparents Leon and Katherine Nageotte of Meadville, Pennsylvania, and paternal grandparents Charles and Pearl Robie of Erie, Pennsylvania.
Her husband, Pitt survives her along with two brothers, David Robie (Karen) of Madison, Alabama, and Kevin Robie (Denyse) Los Angeles, California. Brother-in-Law James Tarrant (Katie) of Bolivar, Missouri, and sister-in-law Neecie Tarrant (Molly). Along with a host of nieces, nephews, and special cousins.
Cheryl was born to Don and Marie (Nageotte) Robie, in Fort Polk, Louisiana while her father was in the U.S. Army. Her family lived in several locations with most of her youth spent in Oak Ridge. She was a born again Christan.
Prior to her career in Department of Energy (D.O.E.) contracts, she spent several years as a Tennessee Peace Officer Standards Training (P.O.S.T.) certified police officer for the City of Oak Ridge Police Department as a dispatcher and patrolman. She was a member of the American Society for Quality as a quality analyst that supported contract work for the federal government throughout the D.O.E. complex. That effort included all the sites in Oak Ridge and the Los Alamos National Laboratory.
She graduated from Oak Ridge High School and later from Tusculum University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management. Cheryl had a long and successful career in the Safeguards and Security organizations protecting sensitive materials and properties for D.O.E. She was employed by Wackenhut Services Incorporated Oak Ridge (WSI-OR) in the Performance Assurance organization. She was promoted to manager of the Quality Assurance group and then Director of Quality, Safety, and Performance assurance. She accepted a position in the same capacity with WSI for managing the Protective Force efforts at the Strategic Petroleum Reserve located throughout Louisiana and Texas. Her last technical position was as Corrective Actions Coordinator at the Farley Nuclear Plant near Dothan, Alabama. She retired from government service in 2014 to pursue interests in real estate and increase free time to enhance her interests in painting. Cheryl also maintained her certification in cosmetology in Alabama and Tennessee offering haircuts and styling to friends and family.
Her mother, Marie, was a talented artist who shared her love of the arts with her children. In 2017, Cheryl began offering for sale many of her paintings that included architecture, landscapes, and portraits. Her passion until the day she passed was her Studio Robie Art (http://facebook.com/studiorobieart) that focused on pet portraits. Many of her portraits were memorial paintings for people who had recently lost their pet to disease or accident. Her commissions rose in number necessitating help from family in shipping, receiving, and bookkeeping. Cheryl’s paintings adorn walls across the country. She was always thrilled when she received a photo from a customer with the portrait of their precious pet framed and displayed. Cheryl enjoyed travelling, having visited Europe on multiple adventures with family, always making new acquaintances and friends.
Cheryl’s interests were simple. She and Pitt often took short drives on local country roads to seek out new landscape subjects just spending time admiring God’s beautiful creation. On a more personal level, Cheryl’s nature ensured people around her were comfortable. You always felt welcome and at ease with her.
Her love for animals drove her to work with and support rescue kennels. She was specifically attached to the Safe Haven Animal Rescue Kennel (S.H.A.R.K.) in Abbeville, Alabama. “Take care of those who cannot take care of themselves,” was a guiding principle in her life.
In lieu of flowers, those wanting to remember Cheryl may consider donations to S.H.A.R.K. (http://facebook.com/AbbevilleRescue) or a rescue kennel of your choice.
Keeping life as simple was her approach to daily living. Her family has memorialized her presence in their lives forever. They invite friends to join her family in a celebration of her life.
Sunset Memorial Park, Funeral Home and Crematory of Dothan, Alabama is in charge of arrangements with burial to occur at Elmwood Cemetery in Birmingham, Alabama. An announcement for arrangements will be forthcoming.
Sunset Memorial Park Funeral Home (334) 983-6604 www.SunsetMemorialPark.com
