Rosemary Peters Obituary

Rosemary Kirk Morledge Peters

Our Mom, Lover of People, Caregiver Extraordinaire – departed this life for her heavenly home Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023, at Oak Cottage Memory Care in Santa Barbara, California.

Rosemary was born into the Scottish-American Kirk clan in Findlay. The youngest of five children, she cherished her siblings together with her extensive band of cousins and friends. She maintained those relationships all her life. Her children enjoyed her stories about her hometown and understood her pride in being a Findlay girl.

From Findlay High School to DePauw University and then to Western Reserve Nursing School (now Case Western Reserve), she focused on public health and was especially gifted in, and adored, her work with infants and toddlers. At Western Reserve, she met and married a young cardiologist, Dr. John Morledge. His practice led them to Florida and Washington before settling in Madison, Wisconsin, for a memorable 20-year adventure there together, nurturing their six children.

Rosemary moved to Santa Barbara, California, in 1978. There, she married George Peters. Her circle of love expanded with stepsons and their families.

Rosemary spent more than 20 years soothing and healing as a RN at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, working nights so she could be present for daily activities of her family, first as a medical/surgical nurse and then on the psychiatric unit. The smile on her face and twinkle in her eyes gave hope to the hopeless. She heard back from patients over the years. She had changed the trajectory of lives.

Rosemary thrived on connections with people, making everyone she came into contact with feel special.

She enjoyed volunteering for Direct Relief and valued her membership at First Presbyterian Church Santa Barbara where she enthusiastically served as a deacon and greeter.

She was an amazing mom, aunt, and Nana. She had high expectations while also instilling in us the value of simple things: mealtimes, sunsets, laughter, playfulness, togetherness, independence, and kindness. The grandchildren gravitated towards her and delighted in her songs and games.

She taught us all to say grace every night at dinner: "God, we thank you for our food. For rest and home and all things good. For wind and rain and sun above. But most of all, for those we love." And then she would say, "Doesn't that say it all?"

Due to Alzheimer's, we have had to say a thousand little goodbyes over the years to the Rosemary that we knew. The final goodbye was the hardest. But, she is free now, back to the funny, spunky, sparkling person she was created to be and is reunited with some of her favorite people: parents, Charles and Ruth Kirk; brothers, Charlie, James, and Dick Kirk; sister, Ruthanne Stauffer; first husband, John Morledge; second husband, George Peters; son, Paul Morledge; nieces and nephews, Rick Stauffer, Susan Kirk, Julie Ehrensperger, Chuck Kirk, and Jim Kirk; and many of her dear friends.

She is survived by her newest family, the staff and caregivers at Oak Cottage Memory Care and from Assisted Hospice. We are forever indebted to them for the loving care they provided to our Mom and to our family the last few years. They do some of the most important work of all.

Rosemary is also survived by her children, Kirk Morledge (Faith Zabit) of Madison, Scott Morledge (Kris Comstock) of Austin, Texas, Ann Dodge (Jeff) of Middleton, Jim Morledge of San Diego, California, and Beth Webb (David) of Louisville, Colorado; nieces and nephews, Mary Beth Lamb, Mary Anne Collins-Stauffer (John), David Stauffer (Teruyo), Ann Rickenbach, Jane Fisher, Stephen Kirk, Bonnie Magers (Chip), David Morledge (Alison), Susan Watters (Ben), Clarke Morledge (Lisa); and dearly loved great- (and great-great-) nieces and nephews.

She is also survived by her grandchildren, Steven Miller (Julie), Walker Morledge, Kelly Morledge, Bailey Wohleber (Charlie), John Morledge, Kendall Morledge, Andy Dodge (Brygida), Jimmy Dodge, Daniel Webb (Matalin), Kirk Webb (Karina), Ryan Webb, and Kevin Webb; stepsons, Steve Peters (Ellen) and their daughters Rachel Belavic (Patrick) and Erica Peters Blaauw (Nick), Thomas Peters and his children Damon Tavano, Nico Peters, and Ari Tavano and their mother, Suzanne Tavano), and Doug Peters (Gretchen) and their children, Walker (Susan) and Asia Hagel (Jeff); and precious great-grandchildren and stepgreat-grandchildren!

Rosemary's memorial service will be 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024, at First Presbyterian Church, 21 E. Constance Ave., Santa Barbara, California.

Donations in grateful memory of Rosemary may be made to Alzheimer's Association, Direct Relief, or First Presbyterian Church of Santa Barbara.