In Memory of Rosemary C. Eason

Rosemary C. Eason, age 94, of Battle Creek, Iowa passed away on Sunday, June 10, 2018, at the Willow Dale Wellness Village of Battle Creek, Iowa.

A Memorial Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, June 19, 2018, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church of Ida Grove, Iowa. Father Richard D. Ball will officiate; with Interment at a later date. The Christensen - Van Houten Funeral Home of Battle Creek, Iowa is in charge of the funeral arrangements. Condolences may be sent online at www.christensenvanhouten.com

Rosemary Catherine Eason was born on June 1, 1924, in Grafton, Iowa, the third child and only daughter of Louis A. and Teresa F. Murphy, and was named for her grandmothers:  Mary Murphy and Catherine McCormick.  She grew up in Greene County, Iowa, and graduated from Churdan Public High School and St. Anthony’s School of Nursing in Carroll.  Rosemary worked as a registered nurse at Greene County Hospital in Jefferson, Hartley Memorial Hospital in Battle Creek, and Horn Memorial Hospital in Ida Grove.  She loved nursing and greatly enjoyed the people she worked with, those she cared for, and those who cared for her in her later life.

Rosemary was united in marriage on January 12, 1950, with Bert F. Eason, Jr. of Scranton, Iowa, a man who fostered her sense of security and made her life an adventure.  The couple farmed in Scranton before moving to Battle Creek in 1956.  In 1958, they moved to the farm on Battle Hill, east of town.  As a family, the Easons enjoyed swimming on summer evenings at the Battle Creek Beach Pool, 4-H activities, and participating in the Ida County Fair.

Rosemary was a self-described tomboy as a child, tagging along with her brothers whenever she could.  As an adult, she continued to enjoy being outside and happily spent many winters with Bert in Mission, Texas, which allowed her to golf, swim, bike, and walk outdoors all year round.  She rode RAGBRAI one year with her sister-in-law Regina Murphy and went on a biking tour of the Netherlands with Texas neighbor Venita Blakely.  Rosemary liked watching birds, seeing flowers bloom, chatting and laughing with friends and neighbors, playing cards, doing crossword puzzles, and sitting outside on nice evenings while petting the family dog.  Among her favorite birds were wrens, hummingbirds, and finches.  She was never able to appreciate sparrows.  Her favorite flowers included lilacs, moss roses, and petunias.

Rosemary was a generous and supportive wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.  She delighted in exploring the outdoors with her children and grandchildren when they were young.  Her children will always remember being able to smell her freshly baked caramel-cinnamon rolls even before they had entered the house after school.

Rosemary was preceded in death by her parents; her beloved husband, Bert; an infant son, Howard; her older brothers and their wives: Leo and Regina Murphy of Jefferson, IA and Richard “Dick” and Mable Murphy of Colorado Springs, CO; a younger brother, Lawrence, who died at birth; her sisters- and brothers-in-law: Halcyon and Leonard Dixon of Chowchilla, CA, and Ada (Wilbur) Huisinga of Parkersburg, IA, Wilbur and Helen Eason of Scranton, IA, and Bruce (Jane) Eason of Mission, TX; and a step-granddaughter: Jamie Lingren of Denison, IA. 

She is survived by 6 children: Cheryl of Storm Lake, IA, Glen (Grace) of Battle Creek, IA, Jay (Sandy) of Omaha, NE, Terry (Melanie) of Battle Creek, IA, Kay (Tom Klein) of Winnemucca, NV, and Brian of Battle Creek, IA; 11 grandchildren: Maya of Battle Creek, IA,  Kami Byers of Battle Creek, IA,  Ben (fiancée Renea Steele) of Battle Creek, IA, Samantha Robinson of Battle Creek, IA, Thad (Dawn) of Hickman, NE, Evan (Sarah) of Cambridge, IA, Gabriel of Battle Creek, IA, Seth (Haleigh) of Ames, IA, Michael of Ida Grove, IA, Patrick of Ida Grove, IA and Nakyya of St. Charles, SD; 3 step-grandchildren: Ryan Rath of Pender, NE, Shere Tarman of Cedar Bluffs, NE, and Diana Rath of Pender, NE; 8 great-grandchildren: Sierra, Blaise and Gavin of Hickman, Sydney of Cambridge, Ellah and Jerzy Byers of Battle Creek, Lexi and Phineas Robinson of Battle Creek, and Bodi of Battle Creek and Ida Grove; 4 step-great-grandchildren: Michah, Rhys, and Noa Tarman of Cedar Bluffs, and Elijah Rath of Pender; a brother-in-law, Frank (Karen) Eason of Morton, IL; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.