Rosemary Reierson passed away on August 15, 2017 at her home in Port Townsend. She was with her son Rick, her grandson Gabe, great grandson Alex and great granddaughter Eryn.
Rosemary was born in Vancouver, British Columbia on August 25, 1925 to Scottish immigrants John and Margaret McStay. She was the third child of nine siblings, of the nine children three survive Rosemary. Her brothers Jack McStay and Bud McStay and her sister Donna Delveccio still reside in Canada. Her Scottish and Canadian heritage gave her a tremendous source of pride and provided endless stories for family and friends.
Rosemary met the love of her life Alfred Reierson and they married in January 1944. Al was a sailor in the Navy stationed at NAS Whidbey Island. The military took them to many parts of the world and eventually they returned to NAS Whidbey Oak Harbor in 1957.
In 1964 Rosemary moved to Port Townsend from Oak Harbor, WA with her husband Al and four of her five children. Her oldest daughter, Donna, was married and stayed in Oak Harbor. Phyllis, Al Rick and Keith made the move to Port Townsend where the Reierson’s and the Wallace’s purchased The Palm Cafe and renamed it The Surf Cafe. They sold The Surf Cafe in 1972 and shortly thereafter opened Al’s Auto on Water Street.
Once you were introduced to Rosemary it wouldn’t take you very long to understand her love of family and her love of the Port Townsend community. Her family grew to nine grandsons, four great granddaughters and six great grandsons. Al and Rosemary were active in the Elk’s Lodge, Redskins booster club, and a host of community service endeavors. Rosemary was appointed the “Cookie Mom” for the Port Townsend Redskins (now the Red Hawk) football team and cheerleading squad since 1991 to the present, a title she cherished deeply. The Port Townsend community and her family will miss her dearly.
She was preceded in death by her husband Al, daughter Phyllis and son-law Monty. She is survived by her children Donna (Monty) Rollag, son-law Don Sprague, Al (Vickie) Reierson, Rick Reierson, Keith (Robin) Reierson, nine grandchildren: Vince, Lance, Jason, Reed, Matt, Joe, Ben, Gabe, and Kevin; nine great-grandchildren: Payton, Paxton, Ryan, Janessa, Addison, Avery, Trenton, Sloan, Alex and Eryn; great great grandson Parker and many nieces and nephews.
Rosemary was laid to rest beside Al in a private ceremony at Laurel Grove Cemetary. A tribute to Rosemary’s life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donation/memorials can be made to the Port Townsend Elks.
