Obituary: James Y. Robertson was a former Carson City mayor, TRPA founding board member and businessman

Surrounded by his loving family, James Y. Robertson passed peacefully on June 13, 2021. Jim was born to Mr. and Mrs. Anthon and Lucille Robertson in Cleveland, Ohio on May 29, 1926. He is preceded in death by his parents, sister Bernice, and beloved wife of 66 years, Nancylee Masters Robertson. He is survived by his children, Kent and Rosanna Robertson, Bruce and Gayle Robertson, and Lynn and Gary Lyon, six grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.

During World War II Jim served in the U.S. Army Air Force. While in Texas training to become a pilot, the war ended and he returned to civilian life where he became a salesman for Pacific Paint and Varnish. On October 2, 1948, Jim married Nancylee Masters in Berkeley, California. There, he and Nancylee began their family and in 1961 he followed his dream of having his own business and moved his family to Carson City, Nevada where he purchased Carson Furniture.

Over the years Jim built the family business into three highly successful furniture stores in Carson City, Reno, and Lake Tahoe. But, being involved in his church and community was also part of Jim’s DNA. Jim was a devoted member of the First Presbyterian Church of Carson City and past President of the Carson City Rotary Club.

He was elected and served as Mayor of Carson City from June 1963 to June 1969 and during his second term, he tirelessly led the effort that resulted in the consolidation of Ormsby County and Carson City. Later he served on the Nevada Gaming Commission, was appointed by then Governor Paul Laxalt to serve as a founding member of the Governing Board of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA), and for many years served as a Hospital Trustee of Carson Tahoe Hospital.

Jim was an avid duck hunter, boater, golfer, and lover of Golden Retrievers. He and Nancylee also loved spending time with family and friends at Lake Tahoe and traveling the world. One of his greatest joys was being surrounded by his family during Sunday dinners. Deeply loved by his family, he was given the nickname of “Moe” by his first grandson, which he proudly carried through the rest of his life. When you ask family and friends, they describe him as extremely kind, honest, generous, hard-working, a consummate gentleman, a role model for all who knew him, and deeply devoted to his family, faith, and community. He will be profoundly missed by his family, friends, and community.

Services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, July 24, 2021, at the First Presbyterian Church of Carson City.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Carson City 306 West Musser St., Carson City, Nevada 89703.