Rosemary Kathryn Holley (nee Kersten), formerly of Ashton, age 77, died on September 22, 2011 at home in Richmond Heights, Missouri. She was born on February 22, 1934 in Rochelle, IL the daughter of Irvin and Mildred Kersten (nee Danekas). She married LaVelle A. Holley on December 26, 1953 at Reynolds Church in Ashton, IL.
After she graduated from Ashton High School in 1951, Rosemary worked as a secretary at the high school where she met LaVelle a vocational agriculture teacher. They moved to Stillwater, OK where she worked as a foreign exchange student coordinator at Oklahoma State University while LaVelle studied veterinary medicine. Upon his graduation they moved to the Chicago area where they finally settled in Morton Grove. Rosemary worked as a bookkeeper for Misener-Holley Animal Hospital and volunteered at the school, hospital, and church and was a member of the Chicago Veterinary Medical Association Auxiliary. They retired to Lake Kegonsa in Stoughton, WI.
Survivors include daughter Renée (Mark) Lawson of Ladue, MO, two sons, Kenneth (Donna) Holley of Prospect Heights, IL and Douglas (Amy) Holley of Cedarburg, WI and five grandchildren, Kate Lawson, Melissa, Brooke, Ali and Christopher Holley; Sister Kayla (Ray) Rippy of Rochelle and several nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband, parents, and in-laws.
Funeral Service will be held at 2:00PM on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2011 at the Reynolds United Methodist Church, Ashton with Rev. Alan Meyer officiating. Visitation will be from 1-2:00PM at the church prior to the funeral. Lunch will be served at noon prior to the visitation. Burial at the Ashton Cemetery. Kindly omit flowers. Memorials can be made to Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, Church Street Station, P.O. Box 780, New York, NY 10008.