Rosemary “Rose” Lynn McClelland, oldest child of Herbert and Josephine
(Heller) McClelland, was born on a farm south of Dellvale, KS on January
4, 1929, and passed away at the Nottingham Health and Rehabilitation
Center in Olathe, KS on May 4, 2021 at the age of 92.
Rose attended grades one through eight at two different rural
schools southwest of Clayton, KS. She attended the Clayton High School
for her freshman and sophomore years, and then moved to Norton with her
family and graduated from Norton Community High School in 1947.
Following graduation, she worked at Ideal Truck Lines until she
married John William “Bill” Mathes, Jr. on July 10, 1948. Rose helped in
their family businesses for many years including the Norton Ice and
Locker Plant and Grocery, and the Root Beer Drive Inn. Later, she worked
at the Haxton Grocery, and Browne’s Clothing in Norton.
Rose, a long-time member of the Norton Christian Church, was
baptized into Christ with her husband on May 20, 1951, at the old Norton
Christian Church. She taught the Sunday School primary grades for many
years, was a member of the Women’s Council, and was Chairperson of the
Funeral Dinner Committee for several years. Rose was faithful in
attending church until the fall of 2020 when her health began declining.
Her greatest love was Jesus, our Lord and Savior, and her husband and
family.
She had also been a member of the FCE and the Polly Anna Club.
Rose is survived by two daughters, Marilyn (Gary) Ochsner, South
Fork, CO, Susan Smith, Gardner, KS, and a son, John Steven (Janet)
Mathes, Norton, KS; three grandchildren, Nathan Mathes, Phillipsburg,
KS, Amanda (JP) Bockes, Lee’s Summit, MO, and Megan (Mike) Kane,
Gardner, KS; three great grandchildren, Kolby and Kaleb Bockes, Breanna
Rose Volo, and a step great granddaughter, Paige Bockes; two brothers,
Jay (Pat) McClelland, Springfield, MO, and Gary (Pam) McClelland, Norman
OK, and several nieces and nephews.
Rose was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Bill (2014), and a son-in-law, Floyd Smith (2014).
Funeral services will be held 10:30 am Saturday, May 8, 2021 at
Plumer-Gobber Funeral Home, Norton. Burial will follow at Norton
Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Norton County Health
Department. Condolences may be left at www.plumergobber.com