Rosemary Camp Blackwell

Rosemary (Camp) (Ma B) Blackwell passed away peacefully June 7th, 2006 in Austin Texas. Born in Hill City, Texas April 13, 1919 to Lillie Mae and Walter Camp, Rosemary attended Tarlton State University in Stephenville, Texas where she met Thomas Blackwell. They fell in love and were happily married for 66 years. Raised on a farm, during the Great Depression, she was a self-sufficient woman. Those who knew the family knew that she was the strength behind the public Travis County figure, her husband, Thomas Blackwell. Tom, a long time jurist fondly known as the “Jumping Judge”, due to his dual occupation of District Judge and National Guard Commanding General of the 71st Airborne Division. Rosemary moved her family to their Bee Caves Road home in 1953 (while an excellent marksman with any firearm, she never used a shotgun or rifle to kill a rattlesnake or copperhead at their rural home; she always used a garden hoe.) She was a positive influence on the PTA and Booster’s Club of the Eanes School District. She volunteered in her children’s Boy Scout, Girl Scout, Optimist Club and school activities making her a fixture in the community and in the memories and hearts of many area residents. As a Red Cross certified swim instructor, she provided free swimming lessons for many Eanes area children. The population of the West Bank was much smaller then, but scores of children became “drown proofed” in the Blackwell swimming pool. A talented seamstress, Rosemary, sewed new outfits for her children and later her grandchildren. With pattern and fabric she could craft the most difficult and complex of Halloween outfits, or wedding dresses. Each spring when new fashions would be displayed in stores, she would “shop” with her daughters, until they found outfits they liked. Rosemary would then sketch the ensembles, buy the matching fabrics, and create the same outfits at home. She donated her time and sewing talents to support the school district. The first dance outfits for the West Lake High School dance team, the “Hyline” were hand made by Rosemary. When the seamstress making the J.V. cheerleading uniforms became ill, Rosemary finished them before the first pep rally. A tiny replica of the uniform was worn proudly by Rosemary’s two-year-old granddaughter to pep rallies and football games. The first West Lake mascot, a human-sized Papier-Mâché Chaparral, was the work of this amazing woman. Rosemary delighted in driving her ski boat and spent many summers enjoying Lake Austin teaching family and friends to water ski. In later years her interest turned to quilting, using the same methods that her grandmother had used to cut, piece and quilt the entire projects by hand. Rosemary had been suffering from small strokes for over nine years, but never let them get the best of her. Once while playing bridge with family, she had a stroke and only allowed the game to stop long enough that she could take two aspirin for the blood thinning effect. Even while losing the ability to hold her cards, she still won that game and many others. She is preceded in death by her loving husband, Thomas Blackwell, and survived by four grateful children: Rose Ann of Portland, Oregon, Tommy of Austin, Betty of Austin and Jeannette of San Diego, California. The loves of her life were her five grandchildren: Savannah Blackwell, Kari Blackwell, Katie Case, Rosemary Belden, and Byrne Belden. In lieu of flowers the family would appreciate your donation to the American Red Cross of Austin at 2218 Pershing Dr., Austin, 78723. A private ceremony will be held in July. Obituary and guestbook online at wcfish.com