Rosemary Reed

Rosemary Dix Reed was born on October 24, 1951, to Arthur Mack “Art” Dix and Elisabeth Cristine “Libby” Hauch Dix in Lynwood, CA. She was the third child of Art and Libby’s five children. She has been reunited with loved ones who passed on before her, including her parents, sister, brother, and grandson. Rosemary was a caring and loving daughter, wife, mother, and grandmother. She will be greatly missed by her family and all those who knew her.

She was raised in Lakewood, CA and graduated from David Starr Jordan High School in Long Beach, CA.  After graduation, she went to work at a local bank as a teller. Rosemary met John Reed at a party that she attended with a friend in the spring of 1972. John and Rosemary were married in December of that year and brought three children into the world over the next decade: Melanie Reed, Stacy Reed and Scott Reed (Jessica).  Rosemary is survived by her husband, her three children, and five grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister, Joyce McNary, and brother, Bob (Amy) Dix.

Rosemary passed away on May 15, 2025, at the age of 73, after a long health battle with several ailments. When she received the diagnosis that she was terminal a few months earlier, she came to terms with the startling news. In typical fashion, she decided to make the best of the situation and the time she had remaining. She spent the last two months of her life in an assisted living facility, where she made new friends among the other residents and care staff.

While in those new surroundings, she spoke positively about playing bingo and sharing meals with the other residents. She even was recruited to join a singing group within the facility. The family received text messages with photos of Rosemary enjoying those activities when she was healthy enough to participate. In addition, she completely planned out all of the details of her own funeral to save her loved ones that burden. After Rosemary’s passing, the administrator at the facility remarked that Rosemary had a steady stream of visitors in her short, but memorable, stay. Almost daily, there seemed to be someone to visit Rosemary listed on the visitor log: family, friends, or members of her church congregation.

If you knew Rosemary, you knew of her strong testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She served faithfully in many callings in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, especially working with teenagers and elementary school-age children. Her warm and caring personality and sense of humor naturally drew people to want to be around her. Serving others is what she loved to do and through Rosemary’s example, she inspired many.

It was her outgoing nature and friendliness that sums up how Rosemary approached life and those around her. She was known for her quick wit and always had a joke on hand to share. Her laugh was unique and recognizable by all who knew her; people did not need to be in the same room to know Rosemary was around when they heard that laugh.

Rosemary stayed home to raise her children. When the children were old enough, she went back to work holding jobs in bookkeeping and office administration. She retired about 10 years ago and enjoyed spending much more time with her grandchildren.

She was always up for a challenge and her kids learned quickly to never say the words “I Dare You”, because she never passed on a dare. Rosemary had no fear and was a bit of an adrenaline junkie. She loved rollercoasters and even went bungee jumping on a trip to Vegas when she was in her 50s.

For about 10 years, she and John had passes to Disneyland and were known to go there for dinner and to just soak in the atmosphere. Their favorite time to visit the Magic Kingdom was during the holidays, as they loved to stroll Main Street to see the decorations. On these holiday trips, Rosemary and John always bought an ornament, which they personalized with the year to commemorate the visit; when they returned home, the new ornament would go on the tree alongside the ornaments from prior years. For their 50th anniversary, they were gifted tickets for a visit to Disneyland during the holidays. The visit was delayed a year due to unforeseen circumstances, but that final visit in November 2023 included one more commemorative ornament and lots of pictures.

Those who wish to pay their respects may do so at the visitation on Wednesday, May 28th from 4pm to 8pm at Luyben Dilday Mortuary, 5161 East Arbor Road, in Long Beach. The funeral service will be on Thursday, May 29th at 10:30 am at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located at 3701 Elm Avenue in Long Beach.

Interment will take place at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Cypress, CA.

Luyben Dilday Mortuary (562) 425-6401