Funeral services have been set for Monday, July 31, 2023, St. Therese Catholic Church. Visitation 9:30 a.m. with the Funeral Mass following at 10:30 a.m. Fr. Joseph Cisetti presiding. A Committal Service will follow at Terrace Park Cemetery.
Rosemary Clara Gill, age 98, of Kansas City, Missouri, passed away on July 24, 2023.
She was born March 26, 1925 in Caldwell, KS, to Mary and Peter Roth and was the oldest of 5 children. Growing up on the family farm and losing her mother at age 6, Rosemary was a determined, very active, and often self-taught learner and hard worker from an early age. She attended school in a one room schoolhouse through the eighth grade, graduated from Caldwell High School, and later took art classes at Barton Community College.
Rosemary found love twice in her lifetime, first with Lawrence (Larry) Moore, who passed away in 2000, then with William (Bill) Gill, who passed away in 2012. Rosemary enjoyed traveling with her family by car, camper, plane, cruise ship, and on foot to numerous places across the globe in her nearly 100 years of life but made her home in Great Bend, KS, then Houston, TX, and last in Kansas City, MO, where she could be closer to family in the Midwest.
Her primary employment followed her passions: raising her family, being a 4-H leader, and working as a seamstress, men’s tailor, freelance artist, nursery gardener, and starting her own pottery studio, The Clay Pot. She enjoyed baking, cooking, and testing new recipes, clipping magazine articles and taking notes on scraps of paper in cursive handwriting only she could decipher. She loved ambitious projects and staying busy! Rosemary was passionate about creating beautiful things through her hand quilting, gardening, painting, and pottery. She is renowned among family and friends for her green thumb, artistic talents and giving advice on these subjects. She was thrilled to showcase her beehives, koi ponds, bonsai, vegetable, flower, and water garden oasis on the KC Water Gardens tour and looked forward to gatherings with The Northland Quilters, The Greater Kansas City Bonsai Society and The Water Garden Society of Greater Kansas City. Rosemary never knew a stranger, always had a smile on her face and a plethora of stories to tell. She got a giggle from making people guess how young she was and amazing them with the answer of 39!
Rosemary is preceded in death by her parents, 3 siblings, first husband, Lawrence C. Moore and second husband, William L. Gill, and grandson, Brandon McPherson. She is survived by her brother (Robert Roth), 3 children and their spouses (Denise and Brit McPherson, DaNean and Gary Tolle, and Tim Moore), 3 step-children and their spouses (William J. Gill and wife, Ellen, David and Noreen Gill, and Susan and Tom Miller), 6 grandchildren and their spouses (David and Jocelyn McPherson, Courtney and Dave Szymke, Rachelle Taylor, Trevor and Sami Moore, Erik Tolle, Alex Tolle), and 11 great-grandchildren (Parker McPherson, Olivia Szymke, Haidyn Tessay, Trystan Tessay, Leland Taylor, Jaxon McPherson, Camryn Moore, Easton Moore, Levan Taylor, Jeslin Moore, Levi McPherson). She will be missed by many more family, friends, neighbors, and caregivers whose lives she touched.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Barton Community College Foundation Art Scholarship, 245 NE 30 Rd, Great Bend, KS 67530 (620-792-3701). Memories of Rosemary and condolences to the family may be shared at meyersfuneralchapel.com.
I am sorry I didn’t make it out there to see my Aunt Rosemary before she passed. I had planned a little later this summer to come for a visit to see her. She always lit up a room, and her spirit was amazing. Few people like her have been in my life. I always remember the treks to Kansas to see Rose, Danean, Timmy, and Denise. Some of my best childhood memories. I can’t put into words how amazing she was to me. It seemed there was nothing she couldn’t do if she decided to tackle a new adventure in her life. Love to all, and my sincere condolences because I know everyone that knew Rose will miss her greatly. Love you, Rosemary!
So sorry for your loss!
Rosemary was a very vicious lady!
Years ago she spent time with Carolyn and I when we were doing crafts & had sponsored a craft show here at Mt. Vernon, Ks.
She was into “Clay Pottery” at the time.
We had a wonderful time!
My deepest sympathy!
I don’t know if I can make it to the funeral.
She was a Great Lady & live life to the fullest.
Dave Roth
( Bill Roth, Sr. Son)
Hey guys,
I am sorry for your loss.
When I think of Rosemary I just smile and then I just chuckle. She was a whirlwind.
Heaven forbid I look back through all the years of knowing her, where does one begin. The parrot, plants everywhere, can’t remember if the skunk was hers or the kids. It always seemed she was always in the sewing room when I was at your house. Denise, I remember you talking about her dancing and how she loved to dance. Where did she get her energy!
She lived a long active life. Something we all need to strive to do. May she rest in peace.
You’re all in my heart and in my prayers.