Obituary of Rosemary Johnson Dodds

Rosemary was born on December 30, 1929 in Providence, Kentucky, the youngest of seven children of John Riley Johnson and Zita Lucas Johnson. She grew up in several towns in Kentucky. Rosemary graduated from Frankfort High School in 1948, received a Bachelors of Arts degree from Western Kentucky State College in 1952, and received a Master of Arts degree from the University of Illinois in 1955. While attending the University of Illinois, Rosemary met Gordon Barlow Dodds, and they married in 1956. In 1959, Rosemary and Gordon moved to Galesburg, Illinois, where their first two children, Paul and Ruth, were born. In 1966, the family moved to the Portland area, and a third child, Jennifer, was born. The family settled in the Raleigh Hills area, where Rosemary lived in the same house for almost 50 years. In 2014, Rosemary moved to Friendsview Retirement Community in Newberg, and lived there at the time of her passing. Before having children, Rosemary worked for various school districts and libraries in Kentucky, Wisconsin and Illinois. After the children were grown, she worked for The Boys and Girls Aid Society of Oregon. Rosemary was a lifelong Methodist, and she attended First United Methodist Church in Portland for many years, where she served on many committees. She was a co-founding member of the church's book club, which was recently renamed in her honor. Rosemary also served as a volunteer for several social service agencies, including Goose Hollow Family Shelter. Rosemary is survived by her children Paul (Yupin Kaewfan), Ruth Allen, and Jennifer Peckham (Rick), step-grandsons Taylor Peckham and Joshua Scott, and numerous nephews, nieces, grandnephews and grandnieces. A memorial service for Rosemary will be held on Saturday, June 1, 2019 at 2:00 pm at First United Methodist Church, Portland, Oregon. The family suggests that memorials be given to the church or to The Boys and Girls Aid Society of Oregon.