Rose Marie worked at Western Electric, and there she met William Brooks. They were united in marriage in 1963. To this union, two children were born, Bradley Michael and Paula Michele. The family lived in Adrian, Missouri until 1975, when they moved to the farm in Butler, Missouri.
Rosie was a busy lady. She was a bookkeeper for the family business, as well as other small businesses around town. She was also heavily involved in the United Methodist church, UMYF, school activities, PTA, Beta Sigma Phi, 4-H, and the Bates County Fair. She helped create the inaugural Purt' Near Anything Goes for the Bates County Fair (the test runs with friends and family were something to behold) and ran several elementary Fun Nights (soooo many tickets and envelopes covering the living room floor). She also enjoyed cooking (she was a pie MASTER), entertaining, reading, BBQ, camping, skiing (even though she couldn't swim), and traveling.
Everyone was always welcome at Rosie's home. Birthday parties, dances, sleepovers, haying day meals, swim parties, and sledding parties were the norm at Rosie's home. Many school floats were built in the barns under her not always watchful eye. She loved to plan and host theme parties for her friends, including a Roaring 20's party, Old West Gambling Saloon party, a luau or two, and a famous Last MASH Bash (complete with drinks in IV bags.)
In 1986, Rosie decided to follow her passion for travel. She went to travel school in Dallas, and then began her career in travel. She worked for several airlines at KCI, including Eastern and Braniff. At different times she was a ticket agent, a gate agent, a BAGGAGE HANDLER (truth), and her absolute favorite, Lost Luggage Locator. Lessons learned from her time there: always be kind to the person trying to find your luggage.
In the 1990's -2011, Rosie worked for AAA as an international travel agent. She adored working with people to plan their dream vacations, almost as much as she loved the actual travelling. During this time she traveled all over the world, including Europe, Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand. She was looking forward to her next, most anticipated trip to Africa, when 9/11 happened and her time in the travel industry ended.
In 1996, Rosie was offered the chance to open a new AAA international travel agency at the office in Fayetteville, Arkansas, which allowed her to relocate to Lowell, Arkansas and be closer to Paula.
After she left AAA and took a much-needed break, Rosie began working in the office at Meadow Park Apartments in Rogers. She was a tenant favorite for over 20 years. Her favorite part of this job was building relationships with the residents, particularly the kids. She had a stream of children that stopped in her office every day after school (many who lived there, many who did not) for candy, attention, and some good old advice. She worked there through 11 years of battling Non-Hodgkin's follicular lymphoma, right up until a couple of weeks before she entered the hospital.
Rose was preceded in death by her parents, Ezra and Dorothy Wade, her brother, Ernest Wade, her sister, Dixie Beatty, and her brother-in-law Ronnie.
She is survived by son, Bradley Brooks and his wife, Teresa of Amsterdam, Missouri; daughter, Paula Brooks of Lowell, Arkansas; brother Jim Wade and wife, Jana of Pleasant Hill, Missouri, grandchildren Laikynn (Taylor) Brooks, Jordan Brooks (Ashley), Amanda Miller Chancellor (Joe), Cody Miller (Jordan), Amber Kendrick, Baylee Kendrick, and many great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Rosie did not want a funeral. Instead, she wanted a Celebration of Life, or a party, as she called it. We will announce the time and place (and quite possibly the theme, because she loved a theme party) soon.
