Rosemary Dubois Ross Holt

Our precious MeMe has given her last dinner party. Rosemary Dubois Ross Holt, 88, of Little Rock joined her Lord and loved ones March 17, 2014 after a rich life devoted to family, friends, and service. She is preceded in death by her parents; her brothers: Del, Rex, and Max DuBois; and her sisters, Doris Griffith and Kay Van Train. Rosemary was born December 5, 1925 in Thayer, Missouri to Vira Hartman and C.M. DuBois, the fifth of six children. After living for a time with her sister, Kay, in Star City, Arkansas she married Lloyd Alvin "Pete" Ross in 1947, and they reared four children in Dumas, Arkansas: Glen Ross, Steve Ross, Mark Ross, and Carol Ann Ross Judd. After Pete's death in 1963, Rosemary married Carl G. Holt in 1967, acquiring two more daughters, Dixie Holt Deen and Janice Holt Donalson. Rosemary has 17 grandchildren and 27 (#30 on the way) great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren. She nurtured a very loving family. Rosemary and Carl settled first in Stilwell, Oklahoma, then moved to Little Rock, Ozark, Russellville, and moved again to Little Rock in 2005, where Carl passed away in 2006. Together they made lifelong friends in every place they lived. Devoted first to her family, Rosie found time to serve her community on the boards of the Methodist Church in Dardanelle, Arkansas and the Salvation Army in Russellville, as well as supporting many charities. Rosie's passions are legendary. As a superb hostess, she adored planning large dinner parties and family reunions, with entertainment for all ages and invariably an extravagant buffet with decadent desserts. The family loved to hear her play Yellow Jonquils and Gertrude's Theme on her grand piano, and she delighted in seeing musical talent blossom among her grand- and great-grandchildren. Rosie recited "The Inventor's Wife" and "How Ruby Played" on cue, and she read all of Jane Austen's novels and watched every single movie version of every one, many times. She also watched all of Downton Abbey and Doc Martin, crocheted afghans, grew her flowers to the end, and loved games and laughter. And technology. It started with CB radios, when she listened to "good buddies" on the road from her home radio, and that led to computers and digital cameras and finally her trusty iPad. She had three computers and printers and used them all. She made her own (awesome) birthday cards with photos for family and friends. Rosie ordered every cutting-edge kitchen appliance and gadget ever invented and used every one. She played RummiCube and computer games and worked jigsaw puzzles as long as she could pick up the pieces. Rosie taught us by example all her life, even how to let go of this life with love and grace. Rosemary was a one-woman art form. If the world were filled with Rosies, everyone would live with her energy, joy, beauty, and humor. This is Rosie's legacy. We here have been blessed by the privilege of being her friends and family. If she were here she would say, "I love you -- and thanks for coming." Revelation 21:4 "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." Funeral service will be 2 p.m. Saturday, March 22, 2014 at Roller-Chenal Funeral Home Chapel, 13801 Chenal Parkway, Little Rock, Ark. 72211, Phone: 501-224-8300. Interment will follow at Riverwood Memorial Gardens, Maumelle. The family will receive friends from 1-2 p.m. before the service. Memorials may be sent to www.hopeawayfromhome.org instead of other physical expressions of sympathy. Online guestbook: www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/chenal.