Rosemary Stafford

January 13, 1939 - December 18, 2021

CARLSBAD — Rosemary Stafford died peacefully on December 18, 2021 at age 82. She was married for 66 years to the love of her life, Irvin Stafford. Loved dearly by all her family and friends, Irvin said it best: “she was the most wonderful woman in the world.”

Rosemary Reed was born in Memphis TN, the second of Harrell and Emma Reed’s four daughters. At age 16 she met Irvin, an 18 year-old Navy enlisted sailor, at a church social. Irv proposed on his 19th birthday, and she accepted with her father’s blessing (because he’d never seen his daughter so happy). The couple married in Mississippi and moved to California, where Irv was stationed, to begin their life together. They raised two children and moved to Carlsbad in the 1970’s. Rosemary graduated from San Diego State with a BA in History. She was a social worker for the County of San Diego, advocating for adolescents in the foster care system, and in Child Protective Services until her retirement. She was a volunteer docent at San Diego Botanic Garden in Encinitas for many years, and grew her own beautiful roses. She and Irv travelled the world together and took their grandchildren on vacations in China, France and the U.S. She loved attending live theatre, watching the birds in her backyard, and spending the holidays and her birthday with her children and their children. We all miss her very much.

Rosemary is preceded in death by her parents and sisters. She is survived by her husband; her daughter Virginia (Ginny) Stafford (Garth McTavish) of Calgary, Alberta; her son Carter Stafford (Marci Stafford) of Vista, CA; grandchildren Meghan Latimer, Ali McTavish, and Nathan Stafford; and great-grandson Hunter Latimer. At her request, no services were held.