Rose Marie Cox

Rose Marie Cox was born on October 2, 1924, to Francis and Carrie (Rager) Rogers in Big Rapids, MI. She passed away quietly, surrounded by family, on June 30, 2019 at the age of 94. She grew up in Howard City with her brothers and sisters. In 1944, she married Orville Tompkins and had two children. Rose worked as a nurse’s aide in Greenville and later at Wolverine World Wide in Rockford, MI. She retired from Wolverine in 1986 at the age of 62, and moved back to Howard City on a property shared with her grandson, Bill. She spent her retirement years quietly, caring for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She enjoyed puzzles, gardening, crosswords, and having cats. Rose is preceded in death by her parents, her brothers, Stephen and Francis Rogers, and her sister, Mary Frandsen. She is survived by her children, Ernest (Peggy Okenate) Tompkins of Abbotsford, WI and Marie (Larry) Wood of Howard City, MI; her sister, Virginia French of Camden, MI; her sister-in-law, Emma Rogers of Gowen, MI; five grandsons, Raymond (Bonnie) Tompkins of Ocean Park, WA, William (Betsy) Trowbridge of Howard City, MI, Roger (Ivete) Gordon of Walker, MI, Tony (Taylor) Wood of Howard City, MI, Charles (Kathleen) Tompkins of Abbotsford, WI, and her granddaughter Amanda (Gordon) Rizor of Chesapeake, VA. She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. The family will greet friends Tuesday, July 2 from 6-8 pm at the Bliss-Witters & Pike Funeral Home, Cedar Springs where the service will be held Wednesday 1:00 pm. Pastor Rick Malone officiating. Interment North Ensley Cemetery, Howard City. A luncheon will follow at Huggard Bible Church, 8860 21 Mile Road, Sand Lake. Memorial contributions may be made to Huggard Bible Church.