I am Sally Hightower, and Rosemary was my aunt.  Her husband Ray Simpson was my mother Alberta Simpson Davis's brother, who was born on Mom's 8th birthday.  Mom dearly loved her sister-in-law, and the two of them always had a good time together.

My favorite memory of Aunt Rosemary and Uncle Ray took place in the summer of 1986, when they stayed with us  at our home in Seattle WA.  They were going on a cruise, I believe it was to Alaska, and since the cruise ship left from Vancouver Canada they flew into Seattle, stayed with my husband and me for 5 or 6 days.  We then drove them up to the dock in Vancouver to catch the ship to Alaska. (It is only a 3 hour drive from Seattle to Vancouver).

While with us in Seattle we took them out on our boat for a few days, cruising in the Washington San Juan Islands, and tying up at marinas each night.  They both enjoyed climbing up the ladder to the fly bridge and taking a turn at driving the boat in the beautiful Pacific Northwest waters. We talked about them coming back and going out salmon fishing with us in the same area someday.

At the end of their Alaska cruise we picked them up at the dock in Vancouver and brought them back to our house for a couple of days until time for their flight back to Los Angeles. 
One of my favorite pictures we took during those last days is of Rosemary sitting on the floor playing a card game with our three year old granddaughter Katherine.

Aunt Rosemary had that wonderful smile and charming manner about her that made people turn and and smile in return when ever she entered a room.  She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.

Sally Hightower 





On Saturday February 21 1998 I met the best friend a man could ever ask for.
During the winter months of 1997, 1998 I worked as a Hotel Manager on the Akedemik Ioffe a Russian Scientific Research Vessel taking passengers to Antarctica. On Saturday February 21 1998 the passengers were entering the dining room for dinner and I noticed this lovely lady wearing a gold AA pendant around her neck. I went to her and asked if I could speak to her about her cabin. She agreed and when we got to the lobby I said to her the real reason I wanted to talk to her was that I really like the pendant she was wearing. She replied “oh” and then I reached into my shirt and I showed her my AA pendant. When she saw that I was also a member of the program she reached out and grabbed me around the neck with a big hug and said “thank god you’re here”. We had several meetings on board and when we landed on the Antarctica continent I made sure she had ginger ale in her champagne glass for the toast. We spent many hours together and really got to know one another. We spent some time on the bridge searching for whales. I asked the Expedition leader Brad Rhees if he would invite Rosemary and her cabin mate to the Captains Table on the last night. He agreed and while we were having dinner the Captain told a joke that took Rosie 6 years before she got the joke. Being my last cruise I traveled on March 3rd. with the passengers to Buenos Aires. We had a couple of days there so Rosie and I got to spend some more time together. In the summer 2000 Rosie emailed me to let me know she will be in Toronto and asked if I would be available. While we were together in Toronto she asked if I would come to LA for a visit and if I did she would take me to Disneyland which she did. She has been my best friend for the past 22 years and I have shared many fond memories with her and her family. I will miss her dearly!  RIP ‘My Fair Lady”. 


Rosemary Simpson (née Zimmer) was born in Moline, Illinois on March 23, 1928 and died on June 5, 2021, at age 93, in Van Nuys, California. She leaves behind 2 daughters (Edie and Kati), two stepsons (Stanley and Casey), 4 grandchildren (Isaac, Sean, Heather, and Danny), and one great grandson (Liam).

As a teenager, Rosemary's greatest joy was singing in the church choir. After attending the Julliard School of Music with her first husband, William Salchow, she joined the cast of the National and then the New York company of My Fair Lady, played Eliza Doolitle on Broadway, as understudy, and opposite Ray Milland in Hawaii. Her stage name was Rosemary Rainer.

In 1960, she married Ray Simpson, one-time Master Electrician of the Los Angeles Music Center, and the love of her life. After obtaining a Master’s degree in Speech Pathology at Cal State Northridge, she taught special education at Kittridge Elementary School for 20+ years. Destinations for Rosemary's world travels included the Galapagos Islands, a Spanish language immersion experience in Mexico, Europe, Russia, Australia and Antarctica. 

The family wishes to thank the staff of The Village at Sherman Oaks, where Rosemary lived for 10 years, and her financial advisor who made it possible.

Her friends described her as generous to a fault. She was fiercely independent, and with her husband Ray, skillfully provided for herself and her family. Rosemary will be remembered as the remarkable woman she was.


OBITUARY

Rosemary Z. Simpson

March 23, 1928 – June 5, 2021

Pierce Brothers Valhalla Memorial Park and Mortuary

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