Rosemary LaRose

Rosemary LaRose, 86 passed away on Oct. 24, 2013, in Anchorage.

She was born and grew up in Gunnison, Colo., where she graduated high school in 1944. In early 1946 while attending nursing school, she met and married Gary LaRose after only knowing him two weeks.

Her life’s adventure had begun.

They left Gunnison and headed across the country by car for Seattle, with Palmer as their eventual destination. Gary had lived there prior to his military service and was going home with his new bride. When they got to Seattle there was a boat strike going on, but they found a friend who was taking a small fishing boat up to Alaska and jumped aboard. Rosemary and the sea did not get along very well and she missed most of the sights up the inside passage because she was seasick. They arrived in Palmer safe and sound with her first Alaska adventure behind her and many more to come.

In 1947, their first of six children was born — Linda — followed by Gary in 1948 and Patty in 1950. During that time they bought a 160-acre farm on Farm Loop Road near Palmer and began their endeavor in crop and dairy farming. It was a tough endeavor. Rosemary worked alongside Gary cooking meals for the farmhands, keeping the books and tending to her family, which had begun to expand again after a five-year break. Judy arrived in 1955, Susan in 1958 and Carol in 1961.

In the mid-’60s, the dairy cows were sold and Gary started LaRose Guide Service. Rosemary was there doing the books, picking up hunters and taking care of the hunters’ wives during the hunts. Of course, she still kept the home, raised her children and held down a nursing job.

In the early days of Valley Hospital, she began working as a nurse’s aide and worked there off and on until she was employed at the Alaska Veterans and Pioneers Home in Palmer in 1977 until she retired in 1985.

After retiring from the pioneers home, Rosemary worked with Gary at their hunting and fishing lodge on Kodiak Island. In 2002, they sold the Kodiak lodge and reluctantly entered full retirement. During that time she and Gary traveled to Yuma, Ariz., to enjoy the sunshine and fruits of their labor. They also spent part of the winter with their daughters and grandchildren in Sacramento, which they enjoyed very much. They always returned home in early spring to ice fish on Finger Lake and get the snow cleaned off of the flowerbeds. Rosemary loved her flowers and always had sweet peas and pansies growing about.

During the last years of Rosemary’s life, dementia robbed her of organization skills and her peace of mind. Through it all, her smile and warmth still shown through during her better times. During those trying times Gary strongly stood by her, supporting her in her final years as she supported him throughout their 68-year marriage.

Rosemary was deeply devoted to God and to the Palmer Presbyterian Church, where she was member for more than 60 years. All through her life Jesus Christ guided her in all of her decisions and helped her with the demands of the day. Now he has chosen to take her on her next big adventure. Her family will miss her greatly, but we all know her spirit is too big to end here.

Surviving are her loving husband, Gary B. LaRose; son, Gary R. LaRose and daughter-in-law, Carol F. La Rose; daughter, Linda Thomas and son-in-law, Allen Thomas; daughter, Patty Mack and son-in-law, John Mack; daughters Judy LaRose, Susan Denbo and Carol J. LaRose; grandsons, Shawn LaRose, Les McKenzie, Mike McKenzie, Lance Mack and Ben Theil; granddaughters, Robin Davis, Sonya LaRose, Mandy LaRose, Jayme Mack, Tamara Botts-Regan and Brittany Andrews; and great-grandchildren, Devin Cory, Jessica Davis, Ethan McKenzie and Bridget Mae Andrews.

A memorial service celebrating Rosemary’s life is at 2 p.m., Nov. 1 at United Protestant Presbyterian Church, 713 Denali St., Palmer.

The family would like all memorial donations made to United Protestant Presbyterian Church, 713 Denali St., Palmer, AK 99645.

Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Legacy Funeral Homes, Kehl’s Chapel.