Rose Marie Stogsdill, a resident of Mount Vernon, slipped quietly away from us on February 17, 2005 surrounded by family and friends at home.
You were born November 9, 1933 to Harold Nick and Dorothy Irene Marks Stogsdill in Sedro-Woolley. You graduated from Sedro-Woolley High School in 1951 and went on to graduate from Western Washington University Summa Cum Laude with a B.S. in 1954. In 1957 you earned your Masters Degree in X-Ray Crystallography at the University of Washington, where you continued your lifelong pursuit of knowledge. Following your graduate studies at University of Washington, you began your career as a research technologist in the laboratory of Dr. Wade Volwiler, Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, and University of Washington Medical School. The focus of the laboratory at the time was turn-over studies of plasma proteins, with respect to the liver. Your research included pioneering the use of one of the first amino-acid analyzers. Your expertise and abilities were much respected. You were a born teacher and, in giving presentations or conferring with colleagues, you had the talent of reaching each person at their level of understanding. After some years in Gastroenterology, you continued your career path in the Department of Biophysics and Physiology. In this laboratory you became an expert in the many uses of computers. This led to your recruitment to the Computer Division of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital, where you worked with Dr. James Fine, and colleagues, until your retirement.
God’s amazing creation was your playground ‘ from the mountains, valleys and seashores of the Northwest to the peaks of Nepal, where you trekked the base camp of Mt. Everest. Birding captured your heart and took you from Alaska to Costa Rica and points between to view these beautiful creatures in their habitat. Every living thing, from trees and flowers to little children were a constant source of love and enjoyment, of caring and concern. All of which you shared with family, friends and strangers.
Your faith was simple. Love God, and love your neighbor. Pancreatic cancer may have taken your body but it did not touch your kind, gentle and courageous spirit.
You are a sister and sister-in-law to June Stevens of Sedro-Woolley, Barbara Haaland and husband John of Troy MT, Joyce Smith and husband John of Mount Vernon. Nancy Knowlton and husband Don of West Richland, WA and Jim Fisher of Mount Vernon. You are the beloved aunt of Barbara and John, Christy and Don, Andrea and Roger, Jill, Sara, Rick, Patti, Susan and Ron, Lynn and Lola, Vern and Susan, Mike and Mary, Lisa and Susan, Eric and Mary, Steven and Katya, and Brian and Liz, and neighbor Mary Jo. You have numerous great nieces and nephews, cousins and friends.
You join your father, mother, sister JoAnne, nephew Dick and brother-in-law John in that place where there is no pain and there are no tears. We will love you forever.
The family wishes to thank Visiting Angels and Skagit Hospice for their kind and caring support to Rose and family. Thank you to pastors Rand O’Donnell and Lynn Robenstein. Please make memorials in Rose’s name to Skagit Audubon Society.
A Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday February 23, 2005 at the First United Methodist Church in Mount Vernon at 1:00 PM. Pastor Rand O’Donnell will be officiating. A fellowship at the church will follow the services. There will be a private family inurnment at Union Cemetery in Sedro-Woolley. Cremation and service arrangements under direction of Lemley Chapel, Sedro-Woolley. Share memories of Rose and sign the online guest register at www.lemleychapel.com.