She was a loving mother, friend, and the Monarch of the family.
Rose was born May 11, 1931 to the union of Thomas F. Simons and Rose Warner in Colfax County, New Mexico.
Raised on the Johnson Mesa a place she loved dearly, surrounded by her family. She lived a tough, but beautiful life. Rose talked often about her love for the mountain she grew up on, and many a story was told of her life and her sister’s life upon that old mountain top. She was taught in a one room school house (Johnson Mesa School) from first grade to sixth grade, then finished out her secondary education and graduated from Raton High School in 1948.
Rose left for Pueblo, CO to major as an Art student, but attended a Business College where she did a year of college. She met Marvin L. Whitley and they were married on January 8, 1949. Marvin and Rose had three children Myda Rose, Lonnie Clinton, and Tomella Diane Whitley.
Rose went to work for the Mountain Bell Telephone Company October 25, 1950. She started as a telephone operator and later became an Engineer for Mountain Bell. She retired February 18, 1982 after putting in 32 years with the phone company. During her life in Pueblo, she not only worked full time but had one the biggest 4-H Clubs on the St. Charles Mesa for 30 years. She had many accomplishments during her life, but her greatest accomplishment was her family.
Rose had four grand children, Darcy Drewes, Alvin Thompson, Nevada Curran and Josh Whitley. She had four great grand children, Coltin Thompson, Trevor Thompson, Carson Curran and Mackenzie Curran, a beautiful family whom she loved greatly.
Rose is survived by her son Lonnie Whitley (Grandson Josh Whitley), daughter Tomella Curran husband Edwin Curran their son Alvin Thompson wife Shelly (Great grandsons Coltin Thompson, Trevor Thompson), (Great grandson Carson Curran and Great grand-daughter Mackenzie Curran), son-in-law Gordon Drewes, her sister Pat Stuckey(Jimmy and Noralee Hughes, Tracy and Joshua Hughes, Earl Vaughn).
Rose was preceded in death by her husband Marvin L. Whitley, daughter Myda Rose Drewes, Grandson Darcy Drewes, Grandson Nevada Curran, parents Thomas F. and Rose Simons.
A Memorial Service and Viewing to be held on November 15, 2019 at Imperial Funeral Home Chapel. Viewing starting at 9 a.m. and Memorial Service at 10 a.m. Rose will be laid to rest at Imperial Memorial Gardens.
