Rose Marie Hargrave

Rose Marie Hargrave was born on April 13, 1922, in Dallas. Rose Marie died peacefully September 7, 2022, at the age of 100. Her maiden name was Rose Marie West and she grew up in the Oak Cliff area, attended a local Baptist Church, and graduated from the old Adamson High School. Rose was an only child and was dearly loved and cared for. She began her working career shortly after graduating high school, when she went to work in downtown Dallas at the Titche-Goettinger Store, which over time became Joskes, then Dillards.

Rose worked at “Titches” all through the years of WWII and thrived on the social scene in Dallas. She joined other girls on regular train trips to Texas A&M in College Station where weekend parties with the all-male student body were staged by the college. There she met Jack Jones, and had a courtship that was fun and exciting, but never completely serious as Jack graduated and quickly was sent to the European theater of the war. Jack served gallantly until the end of the war. Rose kept a scrapbook of letters and pictures from that time and that scrapbook was preserved. Shari, wife of nephew Mack Hargrave, along with Farrel Hargrave Chapman, his daughter (and an Aggie herself), researched Jack Jones and finally found his daughter living in College Station. Contact was made with her and the scrapbook was forwarded. That lovely scrapbook full of letters was obviously dear to Rose Marie, as she preserved it for the time it could become a loving record for the Jones family. An obvious man of great promise and letters eloquently composed - of innocent love between a young Lieutenant and the “girl back home” during a horrible war.

However, Rose Marie also stayed very busy on the social scene at that time. Still living at home, she enjoyed working at Titches and was used as a model on occasion. She worked in many departments, and enjoyed her free time on the social circuit. But all that was about to change. In 1951, a tall, confident former Lieutenant in General McArthur’s WWII Army in the Pacific, came strolling up the walk as Rose Marie sat on her Oak Cliff porch with her mother and father. All interests in her life to this time surrendered to this man, and she became the wife of Paul Hargrave in 1952.

They began as they ended. The two were always deeply in love and dedicated each to the other. By this time, Rose Marie joined the State Farm Insurance Company and Paul worked for MacGregor Sporting Goods. They both worked out their years in those jobs until each retired.

Paul and Rose Marie never had any children, whether intended or not. We do not know.

No couple, it seems, enjoyed life any more than Paul and Rose Marie. She doted on Paul all through the years of travel, friends, the Hargrave family, and quiet time together. They lived in Richardson and were never sitting still. Traveling all over, and also making a yearly sojourn to Terrell every spring for a bushel of fresh peaches. Those peaches went to family, friends, and were eagerly anticipated.

Rose Marie’s life was all about Paul, especially after both retired. She was an elegant dresser and Paul was equally dapper at all times. Quick to laugh, great friends to have, and never a dull moment.

Rose Marie had 3 favorite pictures of Paul on her wall where ever she lived. One was of Paul and Jack Nicklaus together on the golf course.

Paul died in 1996. Rose Marie was made secure and comfortable by the careful financial planning, and discipline of Paul. When he died, Rose Marie took over and looked after a number of nest eggs, keeping careful records and living frugally. When her health declined, she left the last home that was shared with Paul, but never flagged in her love and devotion to her beloved Paul. For those last 26 years of her life, she forever cried and repeated, “I loved him so much.”

Rose Marie lived out her last years first at Presbyterian Villages North, later moving to The Villages of Lake Highlands in Dallas. There, under their care, her vigor returned and she was a treasure to the staff. She was an energetic, bright, and pleasant Lady up until her strength began to wane as she reached 99.

Rose Marie professed her belief in Jesus Christ to those attending her over the years. May that comfort us all as we say farewell to Rose Marie Hargrave.

A graveside service for Rose will be held Wednesday, September 14, 2022 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Calvary Hill Cemetery, 3235 Lombardy Ln, Dallas, TX 75220. Following the graveside service will be a reception from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM at Sparkman Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 1029 South Greenville Ave, Richardson, TX 75081.

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