Rosemary was born April 10, 1931 to Harold Schmitt and Anna Rowell in her Grandma Rose Schmitt’s boarding house on West Bay Drive in Olympia. She grew up on the Westside of Olympia attending Garfield Grade School and William Winlock Miller High School. When Rosemary was fifteen, she was secretary for the High School Department at First Christian Church where she also sang in the church choir. After graduating from high school in 1949, she went on to study music at St. Martin’s College and Central Washington College.
Rosemary sang in both of her college choirs as well as performed solos, including some opera in her beautiful high soprano voice. She would carry her love for music throughout her life, sharing it with others whenever possible, even into the last years of her life when she would sing at the grocery store, the doctor’s office, or wherever there was someone who needed a smile. Rosemary focused her life on loving and caring for everyone she knew. Her joyful attitude spread quickly to all those around her.
One of her favorite things to do was to take her grandchildren on walks through her woods to collect leaves and flowers, count and study the petals, and then press them between heavy books. Finding four-leaf clovers was her specialty. Rosemary always looked for ways to be our teacher at every possible opportunity.
Her smile, gifts of love, generosity, wisdom love for singing, and compassion will be missed dearly, but we are joyful knowing that she is in heaven now with her husband and love of her life, Ed.
Rosemary leaves behind two children, Mark Shattuck, and Jorjana Shattuck-Todd (Dave); grandchildren Maria Shattuck (Ethan), Zandrea Edenstrom (Doug), Markisha Lynch (Tim), Hunter Shattuck (Jessica), Joel Pedersen (Hayley), and Caleb Pedersen (Brittany); thirteen great-grandchildren; and three siblings, Allen “Butch” Schmitt, Sylvia Richards, and Marsha Starr. She was preceded in death by her husband, Edmond Shattuck and her sister, Deanna Richardson.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Alzheimer’s organization.
Celebration Of Life will be held at Mills and Mills Funeral Home, 5725 Littlerock Rd SW, Tumwater, WA on Saturday, April 8th, 2023 at 1:00 . A Graveside Service will immediately follow at Oddfellows Memorial Park located at 3802 Cleveland Ave SE, Tumwater.
Viewing and Visitation will be available at Mills and Mills Funeral Home before the service from 11:30am to 12:30pm.
Rosemary Shattuck from her daughter, Jorjana.
As Rosemary’s daughter, I will forever believe that there has never been a soul on earth with so much beauty and love packed inside. My mom’s thoughts and actions always showed her desire to share everything she had for the good of others. My mom gave of herself from beginning to end in ways that seemed more than her body should have been able to hold. At different times in my life, I would wonder how she could possibly have been given so many talents and gifts, and how she could keep giving of herself time and time again, without tiring. It was then that I realized her life was really a vessel. God’s grace and love would pour into it, and she would pour it out again into the lives of those around her. Until the day she went to heaven, we were generously covered with God’s love and joy through the life of Rosemary.
My mom was my life partner, supporter, encourager. I never had to wonder where I could go for anything I needed, the answer would always be, I can go to my mother. She would stroke my head and lay it gently on her shoulder, and just feel with me, peacefully, whatever emotion I was having. Then we would talk and solve together whatever was on my mind. On nights when I had trouble falling asleep, she would scoot over a little in her bed so I could lay next to her. I would lay there for a little while being so thankful for her warmth and love.
My mom began her life as an adventurous girl who loved to play at the bay across the street from her Grandma’s boarding house on West Bay Drive. This is where she was born and spent much of her childhood. Her grandma and grandpa Schmitt ran a boarding house for the mill workers. There were many meals to be made and a lot of chores to do. She had many happy memories of music played by the mill workers in the evenings. My mom told of the times she would walk out on the logs lined up in the bay to reach a pigeon’s nest that was setting high on a piling. She visited that pigeon many times never once worrying that she could fall between the logs and drown. In fact, she would live her whole life never learning how to swim. Another lasting memory for her was the time she stole a banana from a grocery store in downtown Olympia. She brought it back to her Westside home, where she was immediately told to turn around, go back down the bridge, and walk it all the way back to where it came from.
As a young teenage girl, my mom had a horse called Merry Legs. My dad would see her riding her horse in town, sitting all prim and proper. He told of how he thought she would never notice him since he was from a farming family and wore overalls every day. She did notice him, though, and they became friends. After they both went on to complete a couple more chapters to their own lives, they found each other again. My mom had finished her college years and my dad had finished his time in the service. My mom and dad would know each other from then on as “the love of their lives.”
My mom’s love for singing began sometime around high school. She sang in her church choir, belonged to the Lyric Singers of Olympia, performed solos for events and musicals. This week, I found several old notecards sitting at the bottom of her piano bench. Each one had pencil written lyrics copied in her perfect cursive handwriting. They were titled: My Heart is Glad; If You Know the Lord; Smiling Through; When I Grow Too Old to Dream, and Spirit Divine. Spirit Divine is the one written on the back of your program. When I was in choir in the sixth grade at Michael T. Simmons, my mom and I wrote a song together to give to my music teacher in hopes it could be added to the concert. First we wrote the words, then created the melody, marking each note on the empty staffs in my little spiral music book. I found this song in her piano bench too. I would always remember that moment as a special time I had with my mom—being a part of something she loved so much.
My mom taught me many lessons, including how to treat others and how to see myself. The first lesson: Speak only well of people. Second lesson: Never use money to measure wealth, and third, which our whole family could say in unison: "It's what you do with what you got that pays off in the end." Our favorite message from my mom, though, would come when we began taking care of her in her later years. We would try to get her to use more than her frugal amount of toilet paper-- only to hear her say back to us in no uncertain terms, "You never went through the war!" We knew in her mind she was picturing the shortages of supplies and the cardboard she had to put in her shoes.
If there was something to be taught, my mom was there to teach it. She taught the grandkids about different trees, plants, types of rocks, about our ancestors, and so much more. She always wanted to help me teach my students in school. She would bring me rocks and gems all labeled with their scientific names, and things she bought at craft shows that would be perfect for students to make as gifts. One time when I was teaching Kindergarten, I got a call from the office. "There's a woman here with a bucket of razor clams. She wants to see you.” "Okay. Did she say what her name is." "Yes, she said it’s Rosemary." "Oh, okay, that's my mom." She came straight to my class from the ocean to show my kids what razor clams look like.
My mom spent many years of her life compiling our family's genealogy. More than a thousand pages are in a notebook that she tirelessly typed and researched leading our family on a journey back to the 1670's. It was then when our distant grandfather William Shattuck lived in Massachusetts. She researched all of the family connections before there was internet. I remember going to the Seattle library with her and looking through book after book, cross referencing names and dates. She would travel across the United States to research at churches from Salt Lake City all the way to Boston.
With her genealogy research my mom was able to do another one of her favorite things, write. Her love for writing would not only preserve our history, but it would produce at least a hundred Letters to the Editor, personal letters to Mayor Osgood, and various presidents; She also loved writing poetry for every occasion.
Speaking of writing to mayors and presidents, I recall a scary moment when I was in high school. I was getting ready to go out to breakfast with my mom. We got in the car and started to drive across R.W. Johnson Blvd. toward the Westside. I asked her where we were going to breakfast. She said, "We're going to Senator Claghorn's." I said, "Well, does he know we’re coming?" In my mind I could see us going to his house without notice, so she could eat breakfast with him and share some of her wise thinking about how to make our state a better place. My mom told me we don't have to tell them we are coming. I got a little anxious and said we probably shouldn't just barge in. She then turned to me and said, “Senator Claghorn's is a restaurant by the Westside Lanes.”
My mom also had a gift of being a counselor to others. If anyone needed a caring ear to listen, she was there. After building the mobile home park which they operated for 40 years, my mom would find herself in the role of mother for many of the Ft. Lewis families that lived there from all across the U.S. She was never too busy to listen.
My mom's joyful and grateful heart was a blessing for us all. Even as her mind began to fail, her heart for others refused to weaken. Her desire to make others happy brought joy to people everywhere. Thanks to her amazing caregivers, she was able to keep giving joy until the last years of her life. She could go to the mall for walks and exchange hugs with the Kiosk workers; she could wave to cars in front of her house on Sapp Road and see people wave back, hear the police sound their sirens, and see children wave from honking school buses. Some people would turn their cars around to tell her thank you. One would even drop off a bouquet of flowers to thank her for bringing joy into a struggling world. Her caregivers also danced with her and took her shopping where she could sing her favorite song "God Bless America" as she walked through the store. People would smile and thank her -- this made her heart full. After she passed away, her doctor called me to say how happy he was to have known her and that he would never forget hearing her come through their office singing, "Oh, What a Beautiful Day."
At the end of her life, two amazing things happened which let me know my mom's at peace now in a beautiful place. The day we thought she was getting well enough to come home from the hospital, Alicia had come to visit her. She was washing her face and putting lotion on her when my mom suddenly woke up. "Where have you been?" Alicia asked my mom. "I was in heaven." "Oh, what was it like?" "It wasn't very big." "Why wasn't it big?" "Because you woke me up." "But it was peaceful and beautiful." They began praying together, and in the middle of the prayer, my mom said, "Look, do you see him?" "Who?" "It's God," she said as she pointed to him. Alicia looked where she was pointing, then turned back to see my mom smiling at her. Then another comforting thing happened right after she passed. I was holding my mom's hand as she took her last breath. Within a couple of moments, "Oh, Holy Night" began playing on my phone. It was sitting silently on the pillow until that sudden moment. Oh, Holy Night was my mom's favorite Christmas song. Hearing that, in that very moment, helped me know that she was home again.
I know my mom would say thank you to all of you, those who were family and those caregivers and friends who became her family, for touching my mom's heart and giving her this life of complete happiness. If my mom could tell you something right now, I’m sure it would go like this, “Wherever you go, let our joy out! Don't put it in your pocket or cover it up with a coat when you leave the house. Show it to the world! You will most certainly make everyone happy.
March 23, 2023
At 4:27 my mom passed peacefully to heaven with me by her side, holding her hand, and singing Angels We Have Heard on High. She had been in the hospital since March 16th and at one point was improving from an infection. Suddenly, during the night on the 18th, the doctor called to say she had taken a turn for the worse. He explained that her body wasn't absorbing the potassium they provided and her heart and lungs were suffering. We began her comfort care and spent every one of the next five days by her side. All of the grandkids gathered around her and came to visit her each day. Mark and Jorjana were there daily, too, taking turns to be sure she was never alone. Each of us had our special time alone with her, as she was sleeping peacfully, to say our goodbyes and let her know how very much we all loved her and were so grateful for her amazing heart and soul in our lives. I had told Maria and Zandrea how I was praying that I could be there when she took her last breath, just like I was with my dad. I explained to them how peaceful and beautiful it was when I witnessed the moment my dad went to heaven. Two days before she passed away, Joel and Hayley brought my dad's fishing hat to leave in Grandma's hand. He told me "In Grandma's right hand is Grandpa's old fishing hat so he can be with her in the end. I took the safety pins out so she didn't poke her hand. She gripped it tight when I left." She held it with her until the moment she took her last breath. I texted Joel the morning of the 23rd to reply to him asking how she was doing, "Grandma is the same this morning, breathing peacefully. I told her we'll be okay here on earth and she can go to heaven. I don't know what other blessings God has planned for her to give while she's still here, but His timing will be perfect when her job is done." The afternoon she passed away, I had been with Markisha, Zandrea, and Maria at the hospital. It was about 4:00 when the girls left. Caleb was going to come by after work and would be there around 5:00. I sat with my mom, holding her hand, playing the instrumental Christmas songs that she had loved for years. I was singing the words to each one as they played. During the third song, Angels We Have Heard on High, I noticed my mom had stopped breathing. I looked and realized that she was making the transition to heaven. As I was praying for her and telling her how much we love her, I could sense at that moment she was meeting my dad once again. She would take two more short breaths and I knew at that time she was with my dad and her family in heaven. I sat for a moment, thanking God that I could be there to witness this beautiful moment. Then I had to send Almaz, one her most beloved caregivers, a message to let her know that my mom had passed, as Almaz was on her way to see her. She wanted to sing to her one last time "Jesus Loves Me This I Know." This was a song she sang to my mom every morning when she would get her up. Just then, on my phone which was sitting on the pillow next to my mom's head, I heard it begin playing "Oh, Holy Night." This was the first song on the song list that was playing earlier. It was my mom's favorite Christmas song of all. I was confused how it could just randomly go back to the first song and start up on my phone by itself. Then I realized that this was my mom's, or God's, message to me that my mom was entering heaven and how joyous and beautiful that moment felt for her. I had an overwhelming feeling of peace knowing that God prepared "His perfect timing" for her to pass while I was with her. I waited quietly for several minutes just taking in the moment. Just then Almaz walked in the room. She hadn't received my text so was unaware that my mom had gone to heaven. She stayed with me for a long time, praying and singing Jesus Loves Me to my mom. God had sent Almaz to me in His perfect timing, too, and the two of us stayed there alone with my mom until I decided to call the nurse. Caleb and Kelli Noonan came to the room shortly after the nurse came in. We all prayed together, led by Almaz, and said our final goodbye to my mom. I am so thankful for God's perfect timing and ending to my mom's life on earth. I am so blessed to have been holding the hand of both my mom and dad as they went to be with Jesus, the angels, and family in heaven.
From Jorjana on Facebook
Celebrating my mom who is now in heaven...... What a beautiful blessing her soul was to all those who spent time with her. If you knew my mom, you probably have a song in your heart that you remember her singing. If you didn't know my mom, you probably heard her singing "God Bless America" at the store when she was shopping with friends or family. My mom had joy in her heart that she just couldn't keep from letting out. Wherever she went, she would sing or wave to anyone around her, so, in her words, "I can make them happy." Thank you, Mom, for your lessons of generosity, gratitude, compassion, joyfulness, and living for the good of others. I promise to carry those on for you.
Comments from friends and family
Julie Shattuck
Hi there, Just thinking of you tonight and hope you are doing ok. Nice to have loved ones near. Rosemary is out mapping the stars and not too far away. I regularly connect with my mom when I find the same type of small white feather on walks in the woods or anywhere.I now have a special drawer for them. It is her and she is with me sharing her love. I am certain of that. Love you, Julie
Reply back to Julie from Jorjana
Thank you, Julie. I really needed to hear that. I know my mom connected with me right after she passed. One of her favorite songs, Oh, Holy Night, began playing on my phone randomly. It took me a minute to recognize that it was her message to me that she was in heaven. And for her it would come through her love for music. Your connection with your mom with the white feathers is amazing and comforting. Our souls live on, and to know this is so beautiful.
Brenna Noonan
Sending soooo much love your way! You were the most amazing caregiver, friend, confidant, and daughter to your mom. Your devotion and love to keep her home and happy goes unmatched! I hope you have peace and solace in knowing you provided above and beyond for your parents.
Tammy Teeter
I just heard about your mom. I'm so sorry for your loss. Rosemary was a beautiful sould and you are an amazing daughter and caretaker. You're in my thoughts. Love and miss you.
Lisa Marshall Hinkle
I am so sorry Jorjana. I never new your mom but recognized her in different stores on occasion over the years and she was always singing and or saying “hi” what a beautiful lady.
Betty Fortes
Now I know why you're so beautiful inside and out! Your mom was your example! Sorry Jorge. Hugs to you!
Tracy Windrow
Jorjana, I’m so sorry to hear about your mom she brought so much joy to those around her, The Binders from church still ask about her and will be sad she is gone.
Pamela Gubbe Berschauer
Auntie Rosemary was a beautiful soul, we will miss her waves and singing! I have wonderful memories of the Christmas sing along with my dad and mom at her house! You already carry her torch and love for others with you Jorjana love and care to all of you.
Tom Jones II
Jorjana, you are one of the greatest examples of a loving person, and one of the most incredible daughters your mother could’ve asked for. So thankful that Heather and I were there for your wedding and to see your mother and her joy at your wedding. Have peace on this day knowing what an impact you had on your parents' lives.
Debbie Haines-Staples
Jorjana, my deepest sympathies go out to you. What a kind, gentle beautiful soul your mom was. She always made me smile.
Cathy Dalton
I'm so sorry for your loss. Your mum was so lovely and you did a fantastic job looking after her every need. She will be missed. Lots of love, Cathy and Maurice
Tracy Ridout
My thoughts and condolences to you, your family and loved ones! My family and I were very blessed to have an opportunity to be a part of your moms life and spontaneous songs she would sing that truly made gatherings a treasure! She truly gifted all who crossed paths with her presence! I will miss her dearly but I know she’s finally joined Ed in Heaven and enjoying Benny Goodman at the Tropic Ballroom!
Lisa Hanson
Oh your sweet mother was such a beautiful soul…. I remember your dog she adored when we were in high school, Thor’s Blue Lightning, if I remember correctly. She told me all about his lineage… prayers to you precious Jorjana. What a gorgeous picture of you two.
Teresa Shattuck
Rosemary: A woman relentlessly passionate about our family’s ancestral roots who discovered our past with the utmost patience, resourcefulness, diligence, and love. She will be greatly missed. Her research and writings will forever remain a big part of our family’s history.
Alicia Ridout
She truly is an amazing soul, that I know will carry on through you, she has touched my family’s heart and lives with all the love and kindness she gave us, We love you
Anna McMullen Bracey
She was an amazing force! You are all always in my thoughts and prayers, I love you! She will be missed.
Lauren Langille Gubbe
Precious and treasured picture my heart goes out to you as you grieve your momma now and in years ahead. I love you, lady! Hugs and prayers for you and your family for God's comfort and peace.
Barbara Wuerth
Rosemary was a blessing to all who knew her. Looking forward to hearing her singing with the angels in heaven!
Kristen Crawford
Oh Jorjana, I’m so sorry. You took such good care of your mom. I knew she was an amazing lady because she raised an amazing daughter.
Joy Scholz
Peace be with you and all your family. You mom was a beautiful woman and her memories will live on with you all forever!
Grandma Rosemary- by Zandrea Edenstrom
Jorjana said it perfectly in grandma’s obituary, that our Grandma Rosemary was a teacher who put her family first. It’s almost impossible to list the lessons we’ve all learned from her and grandpa, but when I think back on my time with her, there was always something I was learning or an experience I was gaining, that she believed would make me a better person. We all know in the later years when grandma’s Alzheimer’s started affecting her memories of us, she still continued her teachings, from educating us about how it was important to save the wrapping paper because “we never lived through the war”, to reading books and telling stories to her great grandkids, to making sure they knew how important it was to eat all their food (Jaedyn remembers this lesson fondly).
As one of the oldest grandchildren I was blessed with many years under grandma’s wing. As a small child, she taught us basics like how to sew up holes in pants or socks, how to plant and dig up potatoes, how to play trailer dice, how to pick and press leaves in books, that “those ones” and “these ones” are not proper grammar (it’s a double negative). She also taught us how to make Girl Scout stew with a “sprinkle of love”, she made us (what we thought), was the best homemade Orange Julius (out of powdered milk and frozen OJ or Tang if we were lucky), and when I woke up after spending the night, I had cinnamon and sugar toast and a glass of hot Ovaltine waiting for me. She got all of us girls started in dance lessons, which they attended all of the recitals, many competitions and grandma was the seamstress of many, many of our costumes.
When I was around 9 years old, grandma and Jorjana opened a store called Learn “a” Lot. It was a school supply store, and at that time in my life I really wanted to be a teacher like my aunt Jorjana. And yes, I am a teacher :) Grandma would take me to the store to work all summer. She taught me how to talk with the customers to help them find what they were looking for and how to take money at the till and count back the correct change without a calculator, which I used in many restaurant jobs years later. We also worked cleaning and painting the trailers they rented out at the Shattuck Rentals. On the painting days, I asked if I could work at the store instead and grandma said “nope, you need to learn how to paint!”
In my older years many of us kids played in sports which grandma and grandpa attended almost every game. She and grandpa traveled in the motor home across the country to New Orleans to watch my volleyball nationals, then in college to my track meets in Montana, Idaho and California to cheer me on. I can still hear grandma’s signature, high pitched “whoo whoo whoo” she did (I can’t do the sound, but we all remember it). It was such a comfort seeing the motor home parked at a track stadium in some other state, because they were home to me.
As grandma and grandpa started needing full time care, the roles reversed and us grandkids spent a lot of time helping and filling in as caretakers. We took them on walks, grocery shopping and spent holidays and birthdays together. Grandma was always joyful and happy to be with family. She sang everywhere we went, spreading her joy. Covid did make it harder to see her, but in the last year, I’m so happy we were able to resume many of the traditions. My whole life I’ve spent Christmas morning at grandma’s and never wanted to give that up. She was the rock that kept us cousins and family so close. That’s exactly what she wanted, and in her last days, it was evident she held on so long, to give us all as much time as possible together by her side, and I’m so thankful for that. I’m sure that my siblings and cousins would agree that our grandma Rosemary was one of a kind, and we will miss her immensely.
Grandma Rosemary from Markisha
Hello, my name is Markisha Lynch and Rosemary is my grandmother.
Growing up next door to my grandparents was one of the great blessings of my life. It was a home for all of us, our grandma and grandpa always made it feel like we were supposed to be there, never like we were not given permission. We didn’t interrupt their day, they just incorporated us into it. Walking in, yelling out hello and seeing my grandma sitting at her desk in the living room completing some bookkeeping task or reading next to grandpa on the couch are images I never want to forget. Calling her on the phone to ask for another ride because I missed the bus, or hearing her sing lonely little petunia to help me fall asleep are some of the sounds I want to be able to remember forever.
My grandma wanted us to know we were loved, share experiences with us, teach us, and even sometimes spoil us. The time we spent together on camping trips, trying out the new toys or books at her school supply store, birthday and holiday celebrations or even just a lunch date to get a whopper, she always made the effort for us. I can’t go to the Washington coast line, celebrate a Christmas morning, walk through a clover field, or see a geode and not think about grandma. There are many songs that remind me of grandma, but the song, Who I am, by Jessica Andrews, will still be one of my favorites and help me feel connected to her. The lyrics, “I am Rosemary’s granddaughter, the spitting image of my father, and my mom is always my biggest fan,” continues to feel like a song written for me.
Now, my siblings and cousins like to tease about her ability to make sure we were all behaving. She knew how to scare us just enough before moving on to the next thing moments later. My grandma was strong, she could make the tough decisions and get things done. She was a force who didn’t joke around the same way grandpa did, but I still wanted to be around her all the time because I knew she would take care of me.
I have so many memories as a family, but some of my favorites were the smaller moments together. When she owned the school supply store, I would spend so much time just hanging out with her as she worked and put together displays or restocked different shelves, I was probably more distracting than useful. My grandma would let me come into a back room in her house where she would be spending her time researching and writing up notes about our genealogy and I could read books along side her. She would keep me company when I couldn’t keep up with my big sisters and they had run off somewhere outside. She never scoffed at my horrible piano playing skills and just encouraged me to keep learning. I can firmly say that I didn’t not inherit any of her musical talents. And like I said before there were many rides to school and we would just chat the whole way there about any and everything.
Now as we got older and grandma’s world changed because of her health, one thing remained, she wanted us to know we were still a priority. After running errands together and it was time for me to go, grandma would always grab my face and ask “Everything going okay?”, I would reply that everything was good and she would say, “You know that if you need anything you just let us know.” Although I
knew that the roles were changing and there wasn’t much she could do for me anymore, it always reminded me of the love she had for me and again made me feel safe.
You know how people say that as you get older you turn into your parents, well that is true, but it’s also true that you can turn into your grandparents too. No I didn’t go through the great depression, but I like to ration my paper products like my grandma used too, I love a good sticky note or tiny scrap piece of paper to write notes on just like we would find with her handwriting all around her house, and some would say that I have a strong personality and convictions just like she did too. I know each of my siblings and cousins have inherited their own grandma traits. In fact, we call each other out on them as a joke, but also to make us smile. It’s a reminder of how we all got to spend so much time together and she influenced our lives forever. Luckily, I can count on them to remind me of the details of our group trips, recall Grandma’s famous one-liners, like “it’s what you do with what you got” or confirm the ingredients to her version of a homemade orange Julius.
Although grandma had changed so much in the last several years, she still was a pillar in our family. My children and nieces and nephews already know stories of her and hopefully will remember how her face lit up whenever she got to see them, just like she did for us.
It’s hard to put into words what you feel in moments like this. It feels like a piece of me is gone, like some chapter of my life will close now that grandma is gone too. And at the same time I have an overwhelming sense of love and gratitude. I have memories that helped shape who I am and I got to be loved for 37 years by an amazing person. I will miss her always and am happy knowing she is finally back with grandpa looking down on us.
Grandma from Joel
Grandma was always kind, supportive and believed in me always. Especially in times of need she always knew the right things to say. For the years of my youth I'll always be grateful to have had her as a mentor, friend and grandma. Her strong depth of character and kindness toward others will be her legacy in my mind.
Rosemary
From Dave Todd, Jorjana's husband
I never got to know Ed and Rosemary the way most of you here today did. With Ed to a lesser degree but fortunately with Rosemary over the years I was blessed in several ways to see and imagine what she must have been like. She would always greet me with her warm smile. Then with outstretched hands she would always grasp mine and then move them as if we were dancing or directing an orchestra. Oh and of course break into God Bless America! There was always a chorus of a hundred songs she kept etched in her brain and magnificent heart that at any moment and anywhere she would share in full song….walking around Capital Lake, the mall, the grocery store……anywhere anytime! In this ‘Rosemary’ way, she loved to pass on her joy of life to everyone she came in contact with. It didn’t matter if she knew them or not she just wanted them to be joyful too. This I will never forget. Before asking Jorjana to marry me I wanted to get Rosemary’s permission. We were sitting in the car outside of Walgreen’s while Jorjana was inside. My chance!! “Rosemary I’d like to ask your permission to marry your daughter.” Her reply: “Who?” “Your daughter Jorjana.” “Oh she is a very nice girl!!” I took that as a yes!
Probably the most significant way I got to know who Rosemary really was is through Jorjana. Well before we met 11 years ago she was already taking care of, or coordinating, the full time care givers for her
parents. Not very many weeks would go by where some sort challenge or tough decisions had to be addressed. We’d always talk about the options and many times (most of the time) she’d chose the harder path in my view. I learned very quickly after asking the question, “Why that way?” that the answer would always be, “Because that’s the way my mom would have done it.” And sure enough it was always the right choice in the long run. I’ve learned a lot about both her mom and dad through Jorjana. I have a feeling that will continue. She is so much like her mom and for that I am so very thankful! Love you and sorry for yours and the family’s loss! Rosemary will be missed, never forgotten and I know she’s singing in Heaven this moment!
I need to add that there is not enough gratitude to go around for all the dedicated caregivers and family members who made it possible for Rosemary to live out her days in the place she loved with the people she loved. Thank you so much from both Jorjana and I.
Rosemary’s Life
From Jorjana her daughter
April 10, 1931 Born in Grandma Rose Schmitt’s bed at her boarding house, at 1107 West Bay Drive, Olympia
1949 Graduated from Olympia High School (same class as Ed)
1949-1952 Attended Central Washington College for music and business
1950 Sang with St. Martin’s Concert Choir
1953 – 1956 Worked for the Atomic Energy Commission, Las Vegas
May 17,1957 Married Edmond Richard Shattuck
1957 -- 1959 Lived in Seattle (Mark born Jan. 7, 1958, Jorjana on Nov. 12, 1959)
1960 Bought property on Martin Way and began Shattuck Travel Trailer Sales. Eventually, sold mobile homes and created 22 spaces for rental homes. At first, rented mostly to Ft. Lewis families. She would have a big pizza feed at Dirty Dave’s every Christmas and would invite all of the tenants for an “all you can eat.”
1962-1966 Ed took a job as a Washington State Park Ranger. They moved to Blake Island and stayed on the island as its first park ranger. Then spent time as park ranger at Spokane Falls and Moses Lake State Parks.
1966 Came back to Martin Way and lived in the house on the property there. She made one of the first mobile home park spaces for her Grandma Mary Gustafson to live. Rosemary moved in a pink single wide mobile home and took care of Grandma each day by making her meals and providing care. We would make dinner at Grandma Mary’s and eat together and watch Star Trek.
1967-1969 We moved in with Grandpa George in the Homestead House on Sapp Rd to help him, as he was getting too old to live on his own.
1970 Moved to 309 North 7th, Tumwater Hill so Ed could take a job as a building inspector with the City of Tumwater. He had to live in the city limits to work there.
1973 Ed and Rosemary moved one of their mobile homes to the family property on Sapp Rd. She would live on that property for the next 50 years.
2012- 2023 Ed and Rosemary both moved from their mobile home into the newly remodeled Shattuck homestead on their property in 2012. This would be the home they stayed in for the rest of their lives. Here they received 24 hour care due to their Alzheimer’s. Joel (with Hayley) was their first caregiver, followed by many loving caregivers and family. Ed passed away on June 21, 2014. Rosemary continued getting 24 hour care in her home. Caleb and Brittany were caring for her during her last week of life, along with Alicia, Hayley’s sister. Jorjana spent time every day at their house to keep the in-home caregiving going and the yard work done, so Ed and Rosemary could finish their lives in the same house Ed was born in. Rosemary passed peacefully to heaven on March 23, 2023.
One of Rosemary's hand copied songs found on a note card in her piano bench,:
Spirit Divine
All through the busy world, strife and unrest
God’s children, sad at heart, careworn, distressed.
Father most merciful, hear this our plea
Bring every wandering one nearer to thee.
Spirit of Holy Love, grant us thy peace
Breathe on our troubled souls, bid conflict cease.
Lord, in each waiting heart, Thy love enshrine
Come now, and never depart, O Spirit Divine.
Seeking for light along the lonely way
Longing for rest, Thy erring children stray.
Reaping the tares that fear and doubt have sown
Yearning for peace, when simple trust has flown.
Shepherd of souls, we need Thee all the way
Savior of all, to Thee for help we pray.
Light of the World, Thy joy and strength impart
Come Prince of Peace to every weary heart.
Spirit of Holy Love, grant us thy peace
Breathe on our troubled souls, bid conflict cease.
Lord, in each waiting heart, Thy love enshrine
Come now, and never depart, O Spirit Divine.
* * * * * * * * * *
Obituary
Rosemary Shattuck, 91, passed away peacefully on March 23 after a short illness.
Rosemary was born April 10, 1931 to Harold Schmitt and Anna Rowell in her Grandma Rose Schmitt’s boarding house on West Bay Drive in Olympia. She grew up on the Westside of Olympia attending Garfield Grade School and William Winlock Miller High School. When Rosemary was fifteen, she was secretary for the High School Department at First Christian Church where she also sang in the church choir. After graduating from high school in 1949, she went on to study music at St. Martin’s College and Central Washington College.
Rosemary sang in both of her college choirs as well as performed solos, including some opera in her beautiful high soprano voice. She would carry her love for music throughout her life, sharing it with others whenever possible, even into the last years of her life when she would sing at the grocery store, the doctor’s office, or wherever there was someone who needed a smile. Rosemary focused her life on loving and caring for everyone she knew. Her joyful attitude spread quickly to all those around her.
One of her favorite things to do was to take her grandchildren on walks through her woods to collect leaves and flowers, count and study the petals, and then press them between heavy books. Finding four-leaf clovers was her specialty. Rosemary always looked for ways to be our teacher at every possible opportunity.
Her smile, gifts of love, generosity, wisdom love for singing, and compassion will be missed dearly, but we are joyful knowing that she is in heaven now with her husband and love of her life, Ed.
Rosemary leaves behind two children, Mark Shattuck, and Jorjana Shattuck-Todd (Dave); grandchildren Maria Shattuck (Ethan), Zandrea Edenstrom (Doug), Markisha Lynch (Tim), Hunter Shattuck (Jessica), Joel Pedersen (Hayley), and Caleb Pedersen (Brittany); thirteen great-grandchildren; and three siblings, Allen “Butch” Schmitt, Sylvia Richards, and Marsha Starr. She was preceded in death by her husband, Edmond Shattuck and her sister, Deanna Richardson.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Alzheimer’s organization.
Celebration Of Life will be held at Mills and Mills Funeral Home, 5725 Littlerock Rd SW, Tumwater, WA on Saturday, April 8th, 2023 at 1:00 . A Graveside Service will immediately follow at Oddfellows Memorial Park located at 3802 Cleveland Ave SE, Tumwater.
Viewing and Visitation will be available at Mills and Mills Funeral Home before the service from 11:30am to 12:30pm.
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