LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Surrounded by her family, Rose went home to be with Jesus and reunite with her loving husband, Lenard, on March 20, 2024, at the age of 87.

Rose was born on June 19, 1936, in Broken Bow, Nebraska. She was the oldest of seven girls, born to Mae and Von Paxton.

Growing up she helped her dad on the family ranch raising angus beef cattle. She and her sister rode a pony to attend a one room school house a few miles away during her elementary years. She moved into the town of Tryon to attend high school, living in town during the weekdays and going home to the ranch on weekends.

When she was 16 years old she was set up on a blind date with her future husband, Lenard. Prior to their date, Rose decided she wanted to know what her blind date looked like before she went out with him so she set off to see him play in the town basketball game.

Lenard just happened to be driving down the road as she made her way to the game so he stopped and offered her a ride. They drove to the basketball game together and he asked her to hold his watch while he played basketball. He never did ask for his watch back and that very watch was on her wrist on their wedding day.

Rose and Lenard were married on May 26, 1954. After their wedding, Rose took a teaching position in a one room school house located in Ringgold, Nebraska. They had their first son, Russ, in Nebraska and moved to California in 1958 so Lenard could help his uncle build a home in Ukiah.

They eventually moved to Lakeport and it was there they had their other four sons; Marnin, Joel, Zachary and Jeremy. When Jeremy began school, Rose got a job in the Lakeport Unified School District as a paraeducator where she continued to work until 1983, when the family moved to Hidden Valley Lake. Soon after this move she began working as a paraeducator for the Middletown Unified School District.

Besides working in the schools, Rose would often be seen keeping scorebooks at her sons’ sporting activities, as well as driving kids to games. In later years she could be seen in the stands supporting her sons as they coached various teams, as well as cheering on her grandchildren in whatever activity or sport they were involved in.

Rose was a woman of deep faith. Her service in the churches she belonged to was very important to her. She played the piano in various churches and was also an active board member throughout the years.

Her family was the center of her life. She had a deep love and devotion to her husband. Her love for her sons was unconditional and her pride in each of them was unwavering.

Rose is survived by her sons, Russ Pyzer (Glenda), Marnin Pyzer (Jennifer), Joel Pyzer (Davina), Zachary Pyzer (LeAnne) and Jeremy Pyzer (Shanna); sisters, Judy Cox, Georgetta Paxton, Polly Siegel and Pat Nicholson; sister in-law, Lila Stoddard; 20 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and 3 great-great-grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her husband of 66 years, Lenard Pyzer; her parents, Von and Mae Paxton; sisters, Bess Aupperle, June Farmer; and grandson, Ryan Depp.

Rose will be deeply missed by her family and friends. Her legacy will live on with all who loved and knew her. We are all blessed to have had her in our lives to love, and we are deeply blessed to have been loved by her.

A celebration of life will be held Saturday, April 13, at 1 p.m. at the Hidden Valley Community Church, 18160 Spruce Road Extension, Middletown.