Rosemary Ann (Smith) Wallace, age 87, of Kirksville, (formerly of La Belle, Missouri,) passed away peacefully at Northeast Medical Center in Kirksville, Missouri, on August 26, 2010. She was born in Adams County, Illinois, on July 28, 1923, the daughter of Elmer C. and Anna R. (Schmidt) Smith. On April 16, 1942 in Liberty, Illinois, she was married to Joseph R. Wallace who preceded her in death in 2007.
Growing up in rural Adams County, Illinois, Rosemary graduated from Clayton High School in 1941. Following her marriage in 1942, she became a soldier's wife. At the end of the war, she and Joe entered farming life together. They relocated from Illinois to Missouri in 1951, bought a home south of La Belle, farmed and raised their family. Rosemary enjoyed cooking and caring for her family, bird watching, fishing, and flower and vegetable gardening. She took an active part in the dairy and beef cattle aspects of the farm. She was a member of Home Extension, Queen of Peace Catholic Church, and also St. Joseph Catholic Church in Edina. In later years she enjoyed quilting, and her greatest joy came from sharing her life with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Following her husband's death, she moved to Kirksville and lived with her daughter Mary. Rosemary was a woman of deep faith and humility who focused her life on family, she will be deeply missed.
Rosemary is survived by one son, John T. Wallace and wife, Lori, of La Belle, and five daughters: Linda and Robert Shanks of Bloomington, Indiana; Judy and John Zeigler of Portland, Oregon; Janet and Mike Beavers of Aldrich, Missouri; Mary Myers of Kirksville, Missouri, and Marjorie and Kent Finlay of Centralia, Missouri. She leaves 13 grandchildren: Arthur, Anthony, Kenneth, and Daniel Zeigler, Kathryn Baxter, Matthew Shanks, Andrew Myers, Danielle Martel, Joseph Michael and Ryan Wallace, Rosanne, Royace, and Ray Finlay, 14 great-grandchildren: Lauren, Samantha, Zachary, Brennan, Joseph Michael, Abigail, Conner, and Aiden Zeigler, Angela and Rebecca Baxter, Isabel and Alex Myers, Evan Martel and Joseph Wallace. Her parents, five siblings, one son, Joseph Michael Wallace, two grandsons and one great-grandson preceded her in death.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m. Monday, August 30, 2010, at the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Edina, Missouri. Father Chris Cordes will celebrate the Mass. Burial will be in the LaBelle Cemetery. Services are under the direction of the Coder Funeral Chapel of LaBelle, Missouri.
Visitation will be held Monday, August 30, 2010, from 9:30 a.m. till services at 10:30 a.m. at the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Edina, Missouri.
Casket bearers will be Joseph Michael Wallace, Ryan Wallace, Royace Finlay, Andrew Myers, Matthew Shanks and Arthur Zeigler.
Honorary bearers will be Daniel Martel and Rosanne Finlay.
Memorials in memory of Rosemary Ann (Smith) Wallace may be made to the Illinois Veterans Home in Quincy, Illinois or the Charity of the Donor's Choice.