Rosemary E Church

Rosemary Elliott Church, 93, passed away peacefully in her home in Dallas, Texas, on May 28,

2018. She was born December 9, 1924 to Martin Francis Elliott and Susie Long Elliott. She

was a loving mother, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt and friend and had been a loving

wife. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her. Rosemary was preceded in

death by her husband Oscar Bonny Church, her son Clayton Michael Campbell and her

husband and father of her children, Clayton Dooley Campbell. She is survived by her children

Susan Leonard, Greg Campbell and Nancy Mitchell, stepchildren Lana Church, Terrye Morrow

and Paten Church and their spouses, and numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren,

nieces and nephews.

Rosemary....Quiet, gracious, attractive. She was a matriarch whose presence was central to

family gatherings. She brought a sense of order and style, humor and responsibility. Her life

was a matter of her presence. Usually attired stylishly with accents of gold and white, her

beauty was both natural and adorned. When she entered a room, eyes that turned to her

experienced the delightful sense of feminine beauty.

She was a mother of four when she suffered the tragic loss of her husband, Clayton. It took

time for her to recover and in the meantime she was comforted by the love of her children and

extended family.

She created a successful, professional career as an independent sales representative for

international suppliers of gifts. Ultimately she married Bonny Church and their life centered

around their seven adult children and their families. She and Bonny also enjoyed the company

of many longtime friends, service to their St. Rita Catholic Church family, occasional trips and

enjoying each other’s company at home where Bonny would sometimes fill the air with the joy

of his piano music. Bonny died several years prior to Rosemary and those intervening years

were spent in Walnut Place where she was cared for and frequently visited by her children and

grandchildren, niece and nephews. She was characteristically gracious and accepting of her

circumstance and was always happy to greet visitors who reveled in her bright eyed smile

when they surprised her with a visit. She left Walnut Place to spend the last months of her life

in the home she loved where she died peacefully after a mercifully short period of decline.

Rosemary enjoyed being herself. She was proud of her heritage and accomplishment of

graduating from SMU with a degree in economics and where she was selected for the honor of

Rotunda Beauty. She was humble and unassuming. She was proud of her children who were

just as proud of her. Her image of grace and beauty will remain a presence in the lives of her

family and in that way, she will remain with us forever.