Funeral homes often submit obituaries as a service to the families they are assisting. However, we will be happy to accept obituaries from family members pending proper verification of the death.
Rosemary Aurea (Ernst) Garms of Parkhurst Assisted Living Home, Hood River, Oregon, passed away on Feb. 15, 2025, just shy of her 93rd birthday. We still hear her say she didn’t expect to live this long!
Rosemary was born on March 18, 1932, in Kingsport, Tennessee, to Paul C. and Cyrilla (Gregoire) Ernst. She was an only child but had a very close relationship with her cousin Ermaline as a child and young woman. The two families lived nearby in Chicago as the young women grew up.
Rosemary attended an all-girls high school, where she excelled in piano. She received her Bachelor of Music Education at Mundelein College (now a partner with Loyola University) in Chicago, Illinois, in 1954. During her years at college, Rosemary won a second place title in fencing while also performing well in her studies and becoming an accomplished pianist. One of her teachers had written “beautifully executed” of her playing Chopin at an event in Washington, D.C.
In 1957, Rosemary married Carl H. Garms from Chicago. Carl wanted to try new places, so they moved a few times while raising three boys, Allen, Steve, and David. From Chicago to Oregon, then Florida, then Texas, Rosemary was a very devoted mother and homemaker. She enjoyed preparing meals from their garden and having a few farm animals. It’s hard to imagine her wringing a chicken’s neck, but she just smiled and said, “It had to be done.” After the boys graduated from college, Carl and Rosemary enjoyed retirement in McKinney, Texas, with just a small backyard garden. A few years after Carl passed away, Rosemary moved to be closer to family, ending with Hood River, Oregon, in 2015. Rosemary was a devoted Christian with a deep understanding of the scriptures and a strong connection to God.
She is survived by her sons, Allen Garms of Texas and Steve and daughter-in-law Jeannie Garms of Hood River, and grandchildren Melanie Hannah (Michael and three great-grandchildren) and Derrick Collins, all of Texas.
She is preceded in death by her loving husband, Carl (2004), her youngest son, David Garms (2018), Cousin Ermaline (1958), and parents Paul (1993) and Cyrilla (1994).
Rosemary has requested no services. The family would like to thank the supportive management, staff, and caregivers of Parkhurst Assisted Living Home and Providence Hospice, Hood River. Visit www.AndersonsTributeCenter.com to leave a note of condolence for the family.
To plant a tree in memory of Rosemary Garms as a living tribute, please visit Tribute Store.
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Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
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