Rosemary Elizabeth Wenger Henderson passed away on April 20, 2022, in Austin, Texas. She was just one week shy of her 99th birthday. She leaves behind her daughter Louise and husband Bobby Leverett, son Breck and wife Mary, son John and wife Joy, son Michael and wife Rachel. Her much loved Grandchildren Lauren and husband John, Mike and wife Danielle, Carrie and husband David, Shelley and husband Garrett, Callie and husband Greg, Haley and husband Easton, and nephew David Fernandez, wife Mitzi and son Addison and wife Caitlyn and son Connor. Her grandchildren Marshel and Kezia have preceded her to heaven. She also has 17 Great Grandchildren.
Her life was significant, joyful and full of meaning not because of great achievements in business, politics or the arts, but because she was devoted to community, church and, above all, family.
Yet Rosemary did have a great talent. She was born in New Orleans, La., on April 28, 1923, to John A. Wenger and Florence Betz Wenger. As a teen, she began classical voice training under the instruction of a well-known dramatic soprano, Milou Voitier. She was a precocious student who matured as a vocalist at an early age. Rosemary often performed in New Orleans churches, including the Second Church of Christ, Scientist, while still a teenager. In 1943, Rosemary entered a competition for young musical artists and earned a performance with the New Orleans Symphony Orchestra. She sang the famous Micaela’s Aria from the opera Carmen on January 10, 1944, in McAlister Auditorium on the campus of Tulane University. Rosemary was blessed with a magnificent soprano voice, and continued to perform regularly for many years as the soloist for First Church of Christ, Scientist in Baton Rouge, La.
She was married for 48 years to John Breck Henderson, who passed away in 1993. In December, 1942, Johnny, then a young Ensign in the U.S. Navy who had just earned his wings as a Naval Aviator, heard her sing at a Christian Science Church in New Orleans. He immediately began courting her from Miami where he was taking advanced aviation training. He sent her flowers for Christmas, Easter, Valentine’s Day, and her birthday. In March, 1943, they were engaged to be married. World War II was at its peak at that time, and Johnny’s duty as the Landing Signal Officer aboard the aircraft carrier, USS Breton (CVE 23), in the Pacific came first. They married when his ship returned to San Diego in late December 1944, and he was granted 10 days leave. The wedding, with only a few family and friends attending, was on January 6, 1945., in New Orleans. They honeymooned briefly on the Gulf Coast, then traveled to Ellensburg, Washington, Johnny’s home town, so Rosemary could meet Johnny’s parents.
In June, 1945, Rosemary and Johnny were able to be together full time when he was transferred to a small Naval Air Station in Sanford, Florida, where he was an instructor for landing signal officers. Japan surrendered and the war ended on September 2, 1945. Johnny was discharged from active duty in January, 1946, and the couple returned to Ellensburg. Their first son, Breck Wenger, was born there in July 1948. Johnny had trouble finding suitable employment in the small town of Ellensburg, so he enrolled in an MBA program at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, about 90 miles from Rosemary’s home town. The family moved to Baton Rouge in 1949. Their second son, John Marshel, was born there in 1950. A third son, Michael Emmitt, arrived in 1952. Their daughter, Louise Elizabeth (Leverett), was born in 1960.
The family lived in Greenwell Springs, a rural area just east of Baton Rouge, where Rosemary and Johnny bought an old house, which was quickly remodeled, and 25 acres of land. Johnny, having earned his MBA and certification as a CPA, worked for a petrochemical business, while Rosemary worked at home raising their children.
As if three boys were not enough work, the couple also began farming on their 25 acres. There were cattle, sheep, and registered Airedale dogs in addition to crops used to feed them and a large vegetable garden. There were always lambs and calves to be delivered, puppies to be cared for, tomatoes to be picked and preserved, and farm machinery to be maintained. Much of the management and even much of the work fell to Rosemary, who was born “city girl,” but may have been a country girl at heart.
In the 1970s and 80s, Rosemary and Johnny began growing Christmas trees. Starting out on the 25 acre farm they soon purchased 80 acres in Clinton, La., to expand their operation. Growing and selling Christmas trees is a labor-intensive process that culminated each year in a busy retail season from Thanksgiving to Christmas. Rosemary was in charge of the retail side of the business. She was a fixture for many years on Greenwell Springs Rd. providing carefully-groomed Christmas trees for hundreds of customers.
Rosemary and Johnny were children of the Great Depression. Not surprisingly, Rosemary knew how to get by on very little and was loathe to spend money wastefully. She was a creative cook who could devise excellent, nutritious dishes on a small budget. When the three boys were teenagers she avoided the cost of the vast quantities of milk they drank by buying a cow that produced roughly two gallons a day. Rosemary was also an expert at saving and paying off debt. She and Johnny paid off the mortgage on the 25 acres years ahead of its due date, and we never knew them to have a car loan.
All four children were eager participants in sports, so Mom and Dad stayed busy ferrying them to and then cheering them on at American Legion Youth baseball, softball for Louise, high school basketball for all of us, and even football games for Michael at Central High School. It is a testament to Rosemary’s devotion that all four children graduated from college and have had successful lives and careers. (Rosemary did not attend college, but she told me once that she was offered a scholarship to Newcomb College in New Orleans, the women’s school that shares the Tulane campus. She said she declined because she couldn’t afford the nice clothing and other things often wealthy private college students had.)
Rosemary was always ready for a new challenge or adventure. She loved God and family. She was constantly positive, supportive, selfless, hard-working, and fearless. If you needed her, she was there. She didn’t know how to quit or give up.
In her later years, Rosemary moved with Louise to Austin, Texas, where she worked alongside Louise in her real estate business ventures for more than 20 years. Rosemary suffered from dementia as she advanced in years, but her amazing physical strength enabled her to carry on with life. Her true legacy is one of love. It is a rare person who can make so many people feel the warmth of constant, unwavering love.
The Henderson family would like to thank loving caregivers Sabrina, Meagan, Katy, Elvira, and Shelly who loved Rosemary and made her final years as comfortable and happy as possible. They are truly part of our family.
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