Rosemarye was born in Valley Falls, Kansas, the only child of Henry Merrill and Wilverene (Foster) Stafford.
The family moved to Lawrence in 1940. She attended elementary school, junior high, and graduated from Liberty Memorial High School in 1949. She was a soloist in musical events at LMHS. Rosemarye was a voice major at The University of Kansas, where she was in Dean Swarthout’s acapella choir.
Rosemarye was baptized at the First Christian Church, in Lawrence, and was a soloist in the choir.
She married Don Simpson. They later divorced. She was chairside assistant to John Albers DDS, for several years. She moved to California and Las Vegas, Nevada, where she went to sing with the big bands.
Rosemarye, later, moved to Overland Park, Kansas where she met and married Richard Oswald. To this union, twins Jeffrey and Erin were born. Rosemarye and Richard moved to Lawrence in 2012 when Richards health failed, to be near their son and family.
She is survived by son Dr. Jeffrey (Caren) Oswald, and granddaughter Ashtyn of Lenexa, Kansas. Daughter Erin Gomer of Bristol, Tennessee, grandson Adam VanDekerkhove and granddaughter Chandler VanDekerkhove of Overland Park, Kansas. She was preceded in death by her husband and parents.
Rosemarye loved her family, church and her music.
Graveside services will be 11 am, Friday, June 2, 2023, at Memorial Park Cemetery in Lawrence. A visitation will be from 10-10:45 at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home. She passed away May 29, 2023, at her home. Pastor Barry Foster will be officiating.
Memorial contributions may be made in her name to the First Christian Church, Lawrence Humane Society, sent in care of Rumsey Yost Funeral Home, P.O. Box 1260 Lawrence, Kansas 66044.
