Services will be held at 10:00 am, Thursday, October 18, 2018 at the Hahn-Cook/Street & Draper Chapel, located at 6600 Broadway Extension. Burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery, 13313 N. Kelley Avenue.
Rosemary was born on April 23, 1930 to Bessie Beatrice (Burnside) and John Leder in Oklahoma City, She attended Classen High School and Oklahoma City University. She married Elmer Thomas (“Buddy”) Saunkeah on August 25, 1951, when she was 21 years old. She and Buddy were blessed with three sons, Jeffery, Thomas and David.
Rosemary was a devoted wife and mother. She was active and supportive in every aspect of her young sons’ lives. She never missed a school program, always attended their sports and scouting events, and chaperoned field trips.
She was a teller at Citizens National Bank for many years before starting her family, and after her boys were older she returned to work at the bank. She enjoyed taking special care of “her customers”, and developed close friendships with many of them.
Rosemary and Buddy were devoted Oklahoma Sooner fans and rarely missed a home game in Norman. She was also active in the wives group of the Young Men’s Club of Oklahoma City, and enjoyed attending their many functions with Buddy.
Rosemary was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Buddy, her beloved aunts Jessie, Estelle, Eula, Ethel, Perle and uncle Everett.
Rosemary is survived by her brother John Leder, Jr. and his wife Roberta of Iowa and Florida, son Jeff Saunkeah and his wife Connie of Newcastle, son Tom Saunkeah and wife Karen of Norman, and son David Saunkeah of the home. She is also survived by her grandson Daniel Saunkeah and his fiancé Rebekah of Oklahoma City, her granddaughter Stephanie Saunkeah Jacobson and her husband, Adam, and great grandchildren Axton, Logan, and Mazzy, all of Oklahoma City.
