Rosemary McCoy Anderson

She was born June 28, 1932, in Meridian, Mississippi, the daughter of Dr. J. Vernon McCoy and Elizabeth Hall McCoy. She was an excellent student during her formative years, graduating from Meridian Senior High School in 1949, receiving a special science award and, later, from Millsaps College, obtaining a double major. Her father taught her a keen love for the game of baseball and an appreciation for all the game’s subtleties. She followed her teams with avid interest throughout the rest of her life, her only living regret being that she never got to see the Rockies go to the World Series. Both her parents instilled into her a love of scholarship for its own sake and an appreciation for the outdoors.

While at Millsaps she met, fell in love with, and married Billy Ray Anderson of Mize, Mississippi. Together they raised five children: William Richard Anderson of Trinity, Texas, Susan Kathryn Jolly of Fort Collins, Colorado, Steven Ray Anderson (Cassie) of Longmont, Colorado, Janet Elizabeth Anderson of Longmont, Colorado, and Carol Rose Garrington (Timothy) of Aurora Colorado. They raised their children in Mississippi, New York, and Kentucky in the early years before moving to Longmont in 1965 where they lived the rest of their lives. Billy Ray Anderson died in 2016. They were married for 65 years.

By her example Rosemary taught her children the limitless value of unconditional love, the humanity enabled by reflexive integrity, and a thirst for knowledge brought on by the wonder of God’s creation. She is survived by her five children as well as by twelve grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Over the years she and Bill traveled extensively to all fifty states, Canada, and Mexico and Europe. They shared good will with all whom they met, Rosemary having an out-going, engaging, and infectious personality. She had a genuine interest in everyone she met. The two of them were members of the Longmont Supper Club, which began in 1953 and continued until recently, when the majority of its members were called away.

Rosemary was a Silver Life Master in the American Contract Bridge League, at one point playing against and defeating the, then, richest man in the world, Bill Gates. She was a fierce competitor who was loved and appreciated by her fellow players for her kind heart and ready smile.

Rosemary was a dedicated member of the First United Methodist Church in Longmont which she attended for many years before recently becoming too infirm to go on a regular basis. She undertook leadership roles in both the United Methodist Women, and the Church Women United. Rosemary won first place in the First United Chili Cookoff in September 1993. People who ate her chili and her pecan pie never forgot the experience. They were both perennial prize winners.

She will be missed by all.

A memorial service will be held on at 11:00 am June 26, 2021, at First United Methodist Church of Longmont. Her family has established an email account [email protected] to share additional service details.