Rosemary Pearl Farver
August 17, 1926 - March 28, 2017

Rosemary Farver, age 90, of Auburn died after a brief hospitalization for pneumonia on Tuesday, March 28, 2017 at the MultiCare Auburn Medical Center. She died with strong faith that she would see friends and family in heaven. Some of her last words were "I have such hope, I have such hope!"

The funeral service will be held Saturday, April 8, 2017 at the Auburn Adventist Academy church, 5010 Auburn Way South, Auburn, Washington.

Rosemary is survived by her daughters, Sue McLaughlin and wife Geralyn Keane of Arvada, Colorado; Patricia Eckert of Anchorage, Alaska; Bonnie Payne and husband Patrick Payne of Auburn, Washington; grandchildren Briana Bolling and husband Phil Bolling of Bonney Lake, Washington; Molly Payne and wife Ashley Payne of Auburn, Washington; Thom Payne and wife Rachael Payne of Spanaway, Washington; Abby Lyder and husband Anthony Lyder of Anacortest, Washington; Nicholas and Anneliese Eckert of Anchorage, Alaska; great grandchildren Landon, Isaiah, and Olivia Payne of Spanaway, Washington; and namesake grandbaby Rosie Payne of Auburn, Washington; nephews and niece and their spouses John and Becky Marvin of Raymond, Washington; Brian Marvin of Illinois; Bob and Earlene Wohlers of Chehalis, Washington; Bill and Rita Wohlers of Collegedale, Tennessee; and Karen and Michael Boulton of Mill Valley, California

Rosemary was born August 17, 1926 in Kokomo Indiana to Dennis and Margaret Inez Tomlinson Marvin, and brought home to sister Katherine and brother Melvin. Rosemary attended elementary school in Kokomo and high school at Indiana Academy, a Seventh-day Adventist secondary boarding school in Cicero, Indiana.

She excelled in her schoolwork at Indiana Academy, while working part time in the school cafeteria. But most importantly, she met the love of her life, Robert Emory Farver. "I liked how the hem of her skirt swayed when she wrote on the board in French class," said Bob many years later. They fell in love easily and with joy. Rosemary graduated in June 1944 while her beloved Bob had graduated earlier that year to join the military.

Upon graduation from the academy, Rosemary immediately completed a teacher training certificate designed to provide teachers during wartime shortages. At 18 she began teaching in a one room school in 1945.

Rosemary and Bob married June 22, 1947 in the Kokomo Seventh-day Adventist church, against a backdrop of swagged chiffon and red roses. A lovely family reception took place in the backyard of Rosemary's parents. Daughter Pamela Susan was born June 15, 1949. Rosemary worked in a hospital as a nurses' aide to help put Bob through college. In 1952, they suffered the sorrow of a full term still born son. Rosemary's great desire to have children carried her forward after this tragedy and daughter Patricia Joan was born February 26, 1954. The family moved to Auburn, Washington in June 1954 where Bob had accepted a job managing the farm owned by Auburn Adventist Academy. Daughter Bonnie Jean was born August 31, 1956. Rosemary loved her daughters and found the spirit and wherewithal to give them much more than she had received as a child during the depression. She and Bob always valued education and shared that value with their children. Each of the three daughters completed college degrees.

Over the years Rosemary made her home a warm and welcoming space for the family's many friends at Sabbath dinners, continuing the long Marvin tradition of hospitality. Her daughters particularly remember the fun of games and popcorn on Saturday evenings. Along with mothering, keeping a beautiful and well-organized home on a modest household budget, and participating in church community events--like the annual peach and apricot group canning session that the women in the church organized--Rosemary began working outside the home for a few hours per week at the on-campus dairy and ice cream shop on the Academy's campus.

In 1958, well known as an excellent and inventive cook, she was tapped to begin working part time at the Academy cafeteria. Rosemary worked 30 years at the cafeteria, most of the time as food service director. Rosemary organized and produced meals for as many as 500 students at a time and left a lasting impression on the dozens of students who worked for her over the years.

In her career, Rosemary was a focused and organized leader who recognized that one of the most important parts of her work was to mentor the cafeteria's student workers. Wrote one friend, upon hearing of Rosemary's passing, "She was such a beautiful lady both inside and out. Intelligent, organized, capable, and willing to take all the student workers that were sent her way. She taught her workers responsibility as well as dependability. The kids that worked for her formed lifelong habits that added to their success. She was a unique and talented lady and loved by all...."

In 1988 Rosemary and Bob retired to enjoy many adventures around the United States in their recreational vehicle. In 1997, the family celebrated Rosemary and Bob's 50th anniversary. The party featured life size images taken from a small wedding photograph. Retirement found Rosemary as busy as ever, cooking, entertaining, gardening. Sadly, Bob died at age 74. But the family traditions of gathering for Christmas at the family home continued. And the Saturday "Game Nights" continued with Rosemary as the rarely disputed SkipBo champion. Teenage and adult grandchildren and great grandchildren came to treasure Game Night at Grandma Rosemary's.

Rosemary valued being able to live independently in her home. In later years as her mobility decreased, she was supported in practical ways by many friends, including neighbor Faye, Debbie, and Winona and the Birthday Group who brought groceries, housekeeping, and friendship to her and provided transportation and a daily mail run. She was able to participate in church services through the internet.

Although family and friends grieve her passing, the family encourages friends to remember Rosemary's words, "I have such hope, I have such hope..."

In honor of Rosemary's 30 plus years of service at Auburn Adventist Academy, the family encourages donations to the Auburn Adventist Academy Student Aid Fund, 5000 Auburn Way South, Auburn, Washington, 98092 or online at www.auburn.org where a link may be found to the donation page.

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