Rosalie Munford

Rosalie “Rose” Munford, age 84, passed away February 12, 2021 surrounded by her loved ones in her home in Henderson, Nevada. She was born in Cedar City, Utah to her parents Frank and Mary. Rose and her three siblings: George, Dorothy, and younger brother, Robert; lived with their parents in a small, mail-order house in Cedar City, Utah during her childhood. They shared the property with their pet rooster that would attack everyone except for Rose and her father. She spent her time playing with friends and attending school; and worked a variety of small jobs around town, including plucking chickens at the local processing plant.

At the age of 17, Rosalie was working as a waitress at the El Rey Café in downtown Cedar City when she met Vergene W. Munford. Not much is known about their courtship, but they promptly married on her 18th birthday in August.

At the beginning of their marriage, Gene would leave Utah to work various odd jobs. After a short period of time, Rose packed up her belongings and left Cedar City to be with him. This was just the start of their adventures together. She spent a lot of time riding alongside Gene in their motorcycle club, sightseeing, and seeking out new ventures. They would frequently ride to Denver to meet up with friends but would travel anywhere their bikes could take them. It wasn’t until the birth of their first son, Bruce, in 1956 that they finally purchased their first family car.

In 1957, Rose and her family moved to Henderson, Nevada. Their second son, James, was born not long after their move in 1958. Rose and Gene welcomed their first daughter, Mary Jean, in 1961.

After the birth of her daughter, Rose took on the role of a homemaker. She raised their three children in their Townsite home and acquired a number of hobbies in what little free time she had. Rose enjoyed bowling in recreational leagues that would often travel for tournaments. She shared her love of bowling with Gene, who would sometimes join leagues alongside his wife. Rose loved decorating cakes for others. She would elaborately decorate cakes on request and sought out the joy of others through her hobby. She sewed clothes for her children, made alterations, and mended anything that needed a little TLC.

Her and Gene would take the kids out exploring the desert, boating on the lake, and camping or hunting trips. Rose learned how to water ski with the kids on their trips to the lake-- she was not one to shy away from the fun. Quality time as a family was more important to Rose than anything.

As the kids grew older and moved away from home, Rose and Gene began traveling again. They loved visiting National Parks, and explored Canada, Alaska, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, and most states in the western half of the country. Rose and Gene would go into business together, buying property whenever possible, especially in places where they could hunt and camp. They were often joined on these trips by their children and their spouses. Rose enjoyed almost any activity where she could spend time with Gene and her ever-growing family.

Rose and her husband purchased a property in Duck Creek Village, Utah, where they built their cabin from the ground up. Together they designed the cabin of their dreams and set forth plans that they accomplished together. During the building process, their children and their spouses would come to visit and stay in a trailer set up on the property with Rose and Gene. The completion of the cabin in the mid-90s inspired them to begin on their next project in Panaca, Nevada.

Just after the total renovation of their second vacation home in Panaca, Rose fell ill. Despite slowing her down some, Rose could not be stopped. She and Gene continued to travel between their homes whenever possible. Gene passed on June 16, 2012. Rose continued to live in their Henderson home where she could be close to her children and grandchildren.

Rose loved completing word search puzzles and reading the morning newspaper. She never left a page unturned or a story unread. She enjoyed going on car rides around town with her kids and was always ready for any visitor to walk through her door and chat over a cup of coffee.

Rose is preceded in death by her husband, Vergene; parents, Frank and Mary; and her brother and sister: George and Dorothy. She is survived by her brother, Robert; children: Bruce (Arlene), James (Kerrie), and Mary Jean (Ralph); four grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Rosalie’s life was full of travel, business deals, unexpected adventures, and experiences that continued to surprise her. She will greatly be missed by her loved ones and continue to be a testament to determination.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.palmboulderhighway.com for the Munford family.