Elizabeth May (Watts) Rose

          Elizabeth May Watts Rose (92) was born Sunday, October 4, 1931, on a farm near Ansley, NE and died Sunday, October 8, 2023 in Counce, TN.

          Miss Elizabeth married young and had 4 children.  She gardened, canned, cared for the farm animals and drove a semi-truck when needed for her husband’s business.  The marriage lasted 9 years but ended in divorce.

          She moved back to her parent’s home and began working as a part-time waitress in 2 different cafés to support her children.  After 2 years she was hired at a factory and was able to move and provide for her children on her own.

          Elizabeth remarried in 1964, which added 2 step-sons to her family.  She loved her blended family.  Her home was a hub of activity.  She gardened, cooked, entertained friends and family and eventually babysat for the grandchildren too. She continued to work full-time at the factory until she was 70.

          She was involved at her local church, in Kearney, Nebraska, where she served as a Sunday School teacher and was on the leadership council.

          Miss Elizabeth moved from Nebraska to Tennessee July 2020.  She became a member of Hopewell Baptist Church in Savannah, TN.

          Elizabeth was the glue that kept the family together, she wrote lengthy letters and remembered all the birthdays, special occasions and visited when possible.  In addition to family, she had many lifelong friends, including her first husband’s family members.  She still had a pen pal, Joan Elting in Wyoming.

          Death has been present in her life.  She attended funerals of all family and friends.  One week she went to 4 funerals.

          Family members preceding her in death are her parents, Clifford and Lula Watts, mother-in-law Mabel Kentner, brothers, Alfred Watts & wife Barbara, brother Fred Watts & wife Letha, brother Charles Watts, sister Ardyce Clay & husband Charlie, husband Marvin Rose, infant daughter Darlene Bachkora, son Gary Bachkora, grandchildren Brandon Bachkora & Clayton Peden, daughter-in-law Nila Bachkora & son-in-law Bill Peden.

          Left to mourn are daughter Marla Peden, sons Marty Bachkora, Wayne Rose (Sharon), Terry Rose (Deana), and daughter-in-law Bonnie Bachkora Henderson, grandchildren Alan Peden (Tammy), Meshelle Nabors (Damon), Billy Peden Jr (Tanya), Garry Bachkora Jr (Darla), Jeff Flippo (Lori), Jeremy Bachkora (Stephanie), and Paige Shultz (Ryan), Wade Rose (Cortney), Camie Rose Lentfer (Preston), Troy Rose (Becky), Shane Rose (Amie), Tera Rose Mathis (Scott),  53 great-grandchildren, 9 great-great-grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews and friends.

In lieu of flowers, please donate In Memory Bibles to the Gideon’s International so God’s Word can be provided all over the world.

 A memorial service will be held Monday, October 16th, 1pm,  at Hopewell Baptist Church, 9845 Hwy 128 S. Savannah, TN.

  An additional memorial service will be held in November in Kearney, Nebraska.

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