Upon graduation from high school Rosemary began her college education in June 1956, graduating from East Texas State University in May 1959 with degrees in chemistry and mathematics. In the fall of 1959, she began teaching laboratory chemistry courses at the University of Texas at Arlington and pursuing a master’s degree in chemistry. In May 1962 she graduated with a Master of Science degree in organic and biochemistry from Texas Woman’s University. She completed the Ph.D. degree in radiation and organic chemistry from Texas Woman’s University in 1968. As a graduate student, she and her daughter were supported by research stipends from the Robert A. Welch Foundation of Houston, TX. After completing the doctorate, she received a Robert A. Welch Postdoctoral Fellowship for additional research in “thiophenes” at Texas Woman’s University. She enjoyed research and continued research throughout her academic career.
Dr. Fowler taught college chemistry for several years in Texas and Oklahoma prior to moving to Nevada, MO. She taught chemistry at Cottey College for 33 years. She received the Governor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching in 1992, the Cottey College Master Educator Award in 2007, and the Honorary Cottey Alumnae Citation in 2007. As a member of the Cottey faculty, she served at various times as the chair of the Science-Mathematic Division, the chair of the Technology Committee, and as Academic Safety Officer. In the summer of 2011, she resumed teaching chemistry as an adjunct at Crowder College in Nevada. Throughout her long teaching career Dr. Fowler maintained contact with many of her former students. She enjoyed teaching her students and helping others throughout her life. Dr. Fowler was an active member in the Missouri Academy of Science, was State President of Missouri Academy of Science from 1999-2000. In 2005 she was elected as a Fellow of the Missouri Academy of Science. She frequently presented research papers along with her students at the annual meetings of the MAS. Also, she was an active member of the American Chemical Society for more than 50 years. She was twice Chair of the local MO-KAN-OK section of the American Chemical Society. Also, She attended the regional and national ACS meetings and presented numerous times at the Biennial Conference on Chemical Education during her tenure at Cottey College.
Rosemary was preceded in death by her husband Leonard in 2002, her mother, one sister, Virginia (Garrett) Oswalt, and two brothers, Randy Wayne Garrett and Ray Everett Garrett.
She is survived by her daughter, Mary Lou Myers; granddaughter, Nicole Georges; great-grandchildren, Peyton Dunn, Adam Dunn Jr., and Oscar Georges; sister-in-law, Marjorie Sue Garrett; nieces, Merri Dennis (Jay), Judy Kelly (Wade), and Kristina Hays (R.J.); and nephews, Stephen Johnson and Mark Gonzalez.
Memorial services will be held at 1:00 pm, Monday, April 14, 2025, at Ferry Funeral Home. There will be a private family inurnment at White Cemetery, in Richards, MO
Memorial contributions are suggested to the Rosemary Fowler Science Equipment Fund (Cottey College) c/o Ferry Funeral Home in Nevada.
