CABOT — Rose George,

93, of Cabot, entered the gates of Heaven on Tuesday, September 29, rejoining her husband of 69 years, Charles, and many loved ones who preceded her in death. Virginia Rose Morris was born on March 18, 1930, to parents Luther Pitts and Faye Gowan Morris in Garner, Arkansas. She graduated at 16 years of age as Valedictorian of Garner High School where she was a stellar basketball player, averaging more than 20 points per game with a career high of 41 points.

Rose earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Arkansas State Teachers College (now UCA), and started teaching when she was just 19 years old. She and Charles both started their teaching and coaching careers at Ward, Ark. After their first year at Ward, the school consolidated with Cabot and there were not open positions for both of them at Cabot at that time. The Cabot administration assured them they would bring them back when there were positions available. After five wonderful years of teaching and coaching at Strong, Ark., Cabot kept their promise and brought them back. They both cemented themselves in the school and community and made a wonderful life in Cabot for the next 60-plus years. Rose was a teacher and coach in the Cabot School District for 21 years and loved, and was beloved by, her students. In addition to her successful basketball coaching career, she coached the Cabot High School Quiz Bowl Team to the State Championship Finals, sponsored Jr. & Sr. Class plays and trips, sponsored the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), set up the school’s first Office Practice Class in the Business Department to prepare students for careers in the business world, worked many projects with the Arkansas Director of Business Education and served as the president of the Cabot Education Association. Her many achievements as an educator were acknowledged in 2010 when Rose was honored as an inductee to the Cabot Schools Hall of Fame, following in the footsteps of Charles who had been inducted with the inaugural class a year earlier. Rose left the education profession to join Charles fulltime in their business, Home Lumber Company, Inc. In their later years, they developed Georgetown, a neighborhood that is part of the Greystone Golf Course Community in Cabot. Rose was a master campaigner, helping Charles win elections to the Arkansas State Senate and become the democratic nominee for the U.S. House of Representatives. She also helped him in his Army career as he rose to the rank of Colonel and she served as the president of the Reserve Officer Ladies’ Association. Her teaching and love for young people did not stop with the school system. Rose was a Sunday School teacher and director of the young adult department at Cabot’s First Baptist Church where she was a member for more than 65 years. She was a trailblazer as one of the first women in Arkansas to earn her National Basketball Official’s license. Rose also was known for her love of fashion and sense of style. She and Charles loved to travel, attend sporting events, and spend time with their children and grandchildren. They loved the Cabot Panthers, Arkansas Razorbacks, and any teams their sons-in-law and grandchildren were coaching or playing for. Rose was preceded in death by her husband, parents, son Charles George Jr., and brother Luther Pitts Jr. (Irene) Morris.

She is survived by daughters Jacquelyn (Ron) Cottrell of Sugar Land, Texas, and Connie (Scott) Reed of Cabot; seven grandchildren—Jennifer Bannon of Conway, Josie (Ryan) Fischer of Little Rock, Ike (Christina) George of Tampa, Fla., Taylor (Shayne) Reed of Statesboro, Ga., Lucas Reed of Houston, Texas, Scottlyn Cottrell of Norman, Okla., and Sydney-Anne Cottrell of Tuscaloosa, Ala.; four great grandsons— Jordan Bannon of Conway, Henry Richardson of Little Rock, and Bo and Tommy Reed of Statesboro, Ga., and daughter-in-law Lisa George of Little Rock. Also, nephews Skip (Debbie) Morris of Mt. Juliet, Tenn., Rodger Morris of Mt. Juliet, Tenn., Jeff (Lori) Morris of Fredricksburg, Va., Michael (Joan) Pehosh of Bella Vista and numerous grand nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held at 12 p.m., Tuesday, October 3, at Cabot First Baptist Church with funeral service following at 1 p.m. Special love and thanks to Melissa Hight and Cate of Hight House and Hospice for their loving care of Rose in her last months. There are no words to adequately express the family’s gratitude. Please sign the online guestbook at www.moorescabotfuneralhome.com.