Rosa Catherine Woolsey Chote

Rosa Catherine Woolsey Chote, a lifetime resident of Austin, died peacefully at age 98 on February 17, 2009. She was born on January 8, 1911 to Dr. and Mrs. Samuel Albert Woolsey. She was a 9th generation American, her father's ancestors having come with William Penn in 1683 to the Pennsylvania Colony. She was also a 4th generation Texan through both her mother whose family was in Gonzales County in 1831 and her father whose family came to Williamson County in 1851. Rosa Catherine attended Pease Elementary School (the oldest public school in Texas) and was the oldest living alumna of Pease. She graduated from Austin High School at age 16 and The University of Texas at age 20 in 1931, where she received her BA degree in French and was a member of Alpha Delta Pi Sorority. On February 21, 1935 she married Austin native Ben Lee Chote and they enjoyed 39 happy years together raising their daughter and two sons before his death in 1974. Rosa Catherine was a lifetime member of the First United Methodist Church, Circle II, and the Susanna Wesley Class. She was a member of the Settlement Club where she served two years as president of the club and was on the board. She was the last living founder of Austin High School Red Jackets (1926), and was among the founders of Austin Lawyers' Wives Club. Survivors include her daughter and son-in-law, Diana Chote Smith and Charles A. Smith; her two sons Richard Woolsey Chote and his wife, Eleanor Ann Tyler Chote; and James B. Chote, all of Austin. She is also survived by six grandchildren: Sherry Smith Noble, Scott Charles Smith, Eleanor Catherine (Cacki) Chote Jewart, Ann-Tyler Chote Konradi, Emily Catherine Chote Jenkins, and Amy Laura Chote Clack; eleven great grandchildren; and her brother Samuel Albert Woolsey, Jr. and his wife Mary Ann of St. Louis, Missouri. The family would like to thank the staff of Westminster Manor and Westminster Health Care Center and Hospice Austin for their years of loving care and service to Rosa Catherine. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. followed by a Celebration of her life at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 21, 2009 at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 3125 North Lamar Boulevard, Reverend Kathleen Jones, First United Methodist Church, officiating. Interment will follow at Austin Memorial Park. Pallbearers are Scott Smith, Brian Konradi, Ben Jenkins, Ryan Clack, Emory C. Thompson, and Dr. James A. Prentice. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Settlement Home for Children, 1600 Payton Gin Road, Austin, Texas 78758-6506.