Rosemary Ellen Lovell Kaufman
April 8, 1925 to November 4, 2015
If you learned cake decorating at the Auburn or Kent Parks Departments or Highline Community College in the 60s, 70s or 80s, you likely were taught by Rosemary. If you were a member of the Kent Valley Artists or attended area art shows, you may have painted with her or admired her oil paintings.
Born in Hastings, Nebraska to John and Lucy Lovell, Rosemary grew up with six brothers and sisters. After WWII was declared, the family moved to Tacoma where she graduated from Lincoln High School. While in school, she met her love, Frank (Bud) Kaufman and they married after the war (December 29, 1945). After a short residence in Colville (where Bud grew up) they returned to the coast where Bud worked for Boeing and they raised their family, first in Renton and then for 20+ years on a small farm on the west hill of the Kent/Auburn Valley. Rosemary loved being a wife and mom, was active in her kid’s schools and fit in making wedding cakes for 100s of newlyweds including for her own family; taught and enjoyed all kinds of crafts and showed and sold her oil paintings.
In retirement, she and Bud returned to Bud’s family homestead on Lake Thomas above Colville, WA where they built their dream home, spent most of each year at “The Lakes” and winters in Yuma, AZ. Rosemary continued to go to their Lake home for more than a decade after Bud’s death (1995), enjoying fishing, wild life and family visits. Wintering in Arizona, she joined the Desert Lily Quilters in 1999 and took on quilting with a passion, winning awards and gifting beautiful work to family. She was never without a project or a big smile.
She was blessed with great friends and a family who loved her dearly. After 90 years, she joins Bud, her grandson Kurtis, her mom, dad, all six sisters and brothers and the Lord in heaven. She is survived by Dan (Vickie), Chuck (Ginny), Ron (Cindy), Mary (Tom); grandchildren Heidi, Ryan, Logan, Adam, Michelle, Jenna, Trey and Ty and three great grandchildren, Zoey, Avery and Riley.
Graveside services will be held in Colville, Washington on November 14 at Mountain View Park. Memorials can be made in Rosemary’s honor to the American Heart and Stroke Association.
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