Rose Ann Williamson

Rose Ann Williamson (age 95) passed away in Omaha, Nebraska on June 1,2024. She was born August 1,1928 in Cherokee, KS to Italian immigrant parents, Mike, Sr. and Filomena (Naccarato) Reda. Rose Ann was known in the community as “the little Reda girl” and was considered a “live baby doll birthday present” for her sister Agatha’s 12th birthday that year. Rose Ann grew up on Main Street in Cherokee, under the watchful eyes of parents in the grocery business, four older siblings, her Aunt Josie Naccarato, and a caring small-town community. Rose Ann graduated from Crawford County Community High School Class of 1945. She went on to complete a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Elementary Education at Kansas State Teachers College in 1949, with minor degrees in business, psychology, and home economics. She met her future husband in college and was married Aug. 9,1951 to John H. Williamson, the son of Fred and Clara (Baker) Williamson of Pittsburg, at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Pittsburg. John was a WWII veteran and became an industrial arts educator in college. John and Rose Ann lived for a brief time in Nevada, MO, before moving to Pittsburg, KS. John and Rose Ann instilled the value of education in their three children, while raising them just outside the city limits of Pittsburg, on Langdon Lane. Rose Ann completed a Master of Science degree in Education in 1973 and taught third grade for USD #247 Cherokee, until the age of 70. John and Rose Ann were married 25 years before John’s nine-month illness and death in 1977. As a single parent, Rose Ann completed an Education Specialist Degree at PSU in 1983. She was a member of the National, Kansas, and Local Teacher Organizations, member of the International and Kansas Reading Association, and was a semi-finalist for Kansas Teacher of the Year in 1993. Rose Ann brought stability to the 3rd grade students at Cherokee Attendance Center for over two decades and shared a wealth of personal community knowledge and history with her students and instilled the value of education to her students. Rose Ann’s contributions to her community extended far beyond the classroom. She served on the PSU Alumni Board for ten years; was affiliated with the Kansas Federated Club serving as program director for the Kansas Club; a leader in the American Association of University Women, a founding member of the St. Pius X Newman Center on the PSU campus, and actively affiliated with St. Barbara’s Catholic Church, Chicopee, KS and Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Pittsburg. She served as a Girl Scout Leader and was appointed Election Board Supervising Judge for Baker Township from 1968-1970. Initially Rose Ann was a member of Theta Sigma Upsilon Social Sorority and transitioned to Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority, providing them with leadership for many years and was recognized with a 50-year membership pin. Rose Ann was preceded in death by her parents, Mike Reda, Sr. and Filomena (Naccarato) Reda, Aunt Josie Naccarato, and her four siblings and their spouses: Jim and Darlene (Casciaro) Reda, Sam and Mary (Cukjati) Reda, and Tony and Fileda (Castagno) Reda, and her sister Agatha (Reda) Castagno and husband Battista. She more recently was preceded in death by her two sons Paul D. Williamson (Omaha, NE) in 2020 and John H. Williamson II (Flower Mound, TX) in 2024. Rose Ann is survived by her daughter, Clara L. (Williamson) Uhlrich and husband Charles (Raytown, MO), and her daughters in law Barbara (Lombrano) Williamson (Flower Mound, TX) and Lori (Cherry) Williamson, (Omaha, NE). Rose had a special love for her six grandchildren and their spouses: John Uhlrich (Veronika Bladocha) (Mannheim, Germany), Anna (Uhlrich) Heaton and Casey (Bloomington, Illinois), Karen (Uhlrich) Shulik and Geoff (St. Louis, MO), Kristine (Williamson) Campbell and Kevin (Largo, FL), David Williamson (Omaha, NE) and Samantha Ochoa (fiancée), and John Williamson III (Flower Mound, TX). “Granny Rose” had seven precious great-grandchildren: Brooks, Adelaide, and Nash Heaton (Illinois), Olivia and Morris Shulik (Missouri) and Charles (Charlie) and Eddie Uhlrich (Germany). Rose Ann is survived by numerous cousins, nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews, many of whom reside in southeastern Kansas and the Kansas City area. At the time of her teacher retirement celebration, Rose Ann said she lived her life in 20-year increments: 21 years as a student and single person, 25 years as a wife and homemaker with children, and 21 years widowed and single. She taught school for 28 years. Rose Ann was dynamic, fun-loving, steadfast, and enthusiastic about family and learning. She lived a deep and abiding faith in God which enabled her to endure hardships that came her way and multiplied her many joys. In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes contributions to Good Samaritan-Millard, Omaha, NE, and Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, KS. The Mass of Christian Burial will be at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Pittsburg at 10:00 a.m. on June 18, 2024. The burial will be at the Highland Park Cemetery followed by a dinner at the SMC Fieldhouse next to Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church. The rosary will be recited at Bath-Naylor Funeral Home, on June 17 at 6:00 with a visitation from 6:30-8:00 p.m. Live-streaming will be available at https://www.youtube.com/@ourladyoflourdescatholicch6156

Rose Ann Williamson

August 1, 1928 - June 1, 2024