Rosemary Karen Roberts
Rosemary Karen Roberts passed away peacefully on Friday, May 31, 2024, at Jennie Sealy UTMB Hospital in Galveston, Texas, with her loving family surrounding her. Rosemary was born on March 18, 1948, in Long Beach, California, to Harry Frank and Norma Jean (Bazil) Blair. Following a divorce, Norma and the children moved to Portland where Rose's mother married Leslie Dale Ryther, Sr. who helped raise Rosemary and her siblings. After graduating from Franklin High School with honors, Rosemary moved to Newton, Kansas, to attend Bethel College. She met her forever love, Max Roberts, the day he returned from Germany with the US Army. The two were married on April 20, 1968, at Salem United Methodist Church. Together, they were longtime members of the Crusaders Sunday School Class and season ticket holders to Wichita State football and basketball. Rose worked for Southwestern Bell as a telephone operator in the 60s and 70s. She also worked for Newton SRS as a child support advocate, at Brown Mackie College as an English professor, and at Watertite Roofing as a receptionist. In addition to Bethel College, Rose attended Wichita State University, where she earned both a bachelor's degree and master's degree while studying poetry, creative writing, and women's studies, and working as a teaching assistant. She volunteered for the Women's Crisis Center, Girl Scouts, the United Methodist Disaster Relief Team, GraceMed Guild, was a leader for Salem United Methodist Youth Fellowship and vacation bible school, and held a variety of leadership positions for the United Methodist Women and United Women in Faith. She was a lay leader, liturgist, and occasionally worked in the church office at Salem. She enjoyed pushing wheelchairs at Asbury Park Assisted Living Center so that residents could attend services at the chapel, and she thoroughly enjoyed her years as a member of the Red Hat Society. She made prayer shawls and taught other churches about this mission. She knitted hats for babies. As a young mom, she took in ironing and enjoyed making matching clothes for her daughters. She sewed hundreds of patches on uniforms, and enjoyed helping make costumes. She was a transporter and caretaker for friends and family and was willing to stay as long as she was needed. She loved social media, snapchat filters, and was a tenacious board game player. She was an ally who loved and accepted all. She was a feminist, a proud advocate for racial justice, and she was a survivor. Rose was a devoted and supportive friend and family member. She was the cog of the wheel in many of her relationships...she left an impression on everyone she met. She was a poet and had a brilliant and creative mind. She loved camping, cooking, watching tv and sharing her favorites. She closely followed the Chiefs and the Royals. She loved baking cookies. She was always confident with technology and enjoyed hosting zoom meetings and planning events. She hosted the best birthday parties. She was the writing editor and math tutor for her family and many friends. She enjoyed studying, presenting, reading, and traveling. She took special adventures with each of her five grandchildren and passionately followed her beloved Shockers all over the United States during March Madness. She loved nature, animals, trips to Oregon, the ocean, the mountains, blue herons, a good campfire, and laughter. She was a spiritual woman who found peace and beauty in many things. Rose's greatest joy was her family, and she did her best to attend every activity where they were involved. Rosemary was preceded in death by her husband and lifetime love, Max. Also preceding her in death were Max's parents, Eugene C. and Dorothy N. Roberts; her parents, and her step-father. Survivors include her sister, Rita Beito (Vern) of The Dalles, OR; two brothers, Harry Blair of Vancouver, WA, and Leslie Ryther Jr. (Teresa) of Andover, KS; her two adoring daughters, Keri Boley of Salina, and Brandy Beer (Kyle) of Valley Center; her most beloved grandchildren, Alexa Jarrell (Stephen Edwards), Colby Beer (Valentina Krumbach), Raef, Makenzie, and Kyler Boley; and the very sweetest great-grandson, Kendrick Max Beer. Other survivors include many special nieces, nephews, cousins, and so many dear, dear friends. A memorial service and celebration of Rosemary's beautiful life will be held at Salem United Methodist Church in Newton, Kansas, on Saturday, June 29th at 10:30 am. The service will be followed by food, fellowship, and laughter with all friends and family who can attend...just the way Rose would like it. A private inurnment with her children and grandchildren at Restlawn Gardens of Memory Cemetery in rural Newton, KS, will take place at a later date. Memorials may be made to Brandy Beer for the Rosemary Roberts Memorial fund, care of Petersen Funeral Home, 215 N Main St, Newton, KS, 67114
