Josephine Rose, of Dixon, was born on March 4, 1925, at Big Piney, a daughter of Silas William and Florence Lovada (Carroll) Kelley, and departed this life at 2:40 a.m., Sunday, May 26, 2013, in Sturgeon Rest Home, Sturgeon. Mrs. Rose had been in failing health for some time and had attained the age of 88 years, 2 months, and 22 days.

Mrs. Rose was united in marriage on October 28, 1940, at Rolla, to Pearl Rose, and to this union, one son was born. She was preceded in death by her husband on March 27, 1997; her son, Gary Lee Rose, on May 10, 1995; her father on February 21, 1984; her mother on November 4, 1996; and one brother, Floyd Kelley.

She was baptized early in life and had attended the Gasconade Baptist Church, near Dixon. Mrs. Rose had been employed by Civil Service in the office at the Fort Leonard Wood Laundry for thirty-five years retiring in 1998. She then became the office manager for the Busy Bee Laundry and Dry Cleaning, Rolla, retiring in 2007.

Those left to mourn the passing of Mrs. Rose include: Two grandsons, Tom and Summer Rose, and Garrett Rose, all of Dixon; two great-granddaughters, Quincy and Kylee Rose, both of Dixon; one sister, Magdalene Meentemeyer, St. Louis; one daughter-in-law, Judy Rose, Dixon; two step-grandchildren, Misty Bade and Keith Sinclair, both of Dixon; and other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were conducted for Mrs. Rose at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, June 5, 2013, in the Dixon Chapel of the Birmingham-Martin Funeral Homes. Three favorite hymns of Mrs. Rose, "Amazing Grace", "Precious Memories", and "I'll Fly Away", were played for her funeral service.

Interment, next to her husband and son, was in the Gasconade Cemetery, near Dixon, under the direction of the Dixon Chapel of the Birmingham-Martin Funeral Homes. Pallbearers for Mrs. Rose were Tom Rose, Jay Ramboldt, Cory Pierce, Richard Carver, Keith Sinclair, and Vince Caldwell.

Memorials are suggested per the wishes of the family with envelopes available at the Dixon Office of the Birmingham-Martin Funeral Homes.