Rosemary Johnson

Rosemary Carol Johnson passed away on Tuesday, October 13, 2026. She was born to Albert and Bessie (Ruckman) Garner in Mt. Vernon, Missouri in 1940. A 1957 graduate of Mt. Vernon High School, Rosemary moved to the dark side and became a Miller Cardinal. Fortunately, she was able to sing the fight song for both schools, and honestly, ‘red and white’ rolls off the tongue a bit more readily than ‘green and white,’ so the choice was easy and logical. 

In 1959, Rosemary wedded Wayne Johnson on Christmas Day. She was always his greatest gift. We’re fairly certain she never regretted having to share her anniversary with a rotund bearded man in a red suit, scattered Christmas wrapping paper, and flashing lights wrapped around whichever poor cedar tree Wayne chose to harvest from the rugged Ozarks hillsides that she called home. 

She was a 1961 graduate of Southwest Missouri State Teacher’s College where she completed her degree with a 2.9 grade point average. At some point many years later, her smug eldest son made a comment about his 3.4 average being higher than hers so she broke out her transcript. Imagine the sheepish look on his face when he saw that in those days, an A was worth 3 points and a perfect average was 3.0. Much face was lost. 

Following graduation Rosemary taught English and Spanish at Everton (MO) High School. In 1966 she stepped back from teaching to raise a family. She returned to the classroom a decade later and picked up where she left off. She taught elementary school, junior high, and high school in the Miller School system. She finished her career as school librarian. Her poor children could never get up to any hijinks with Rosemary teaching at the same school they attended.

When Rosemary retired from teaching, she went to work for NASCAR, working as a scorer for any team that might need one. Rosemary and her husband Wayne eventually began driving the personal motor coach of one of NASCAR’s biggest stars. At 5’3” tall (yes, that’s a stretch) she handled a 45-foot motor coach like a professional, driving through some of the largest cities in America as if it were any Sunday afternoon. 

Rosemary’s life was much bigger than these few paragraphs. She graduated high school at 16 and college at 20. She and her husband Wayne raised three kids of their own and at least two dozen others whose parents just weren’t up to the task. She cooked thousands of breakfast pancakes, learned to water ski (even though she hated water more than most cats), cheered on her Miller Cardinals at hundreds of football, basketball, and volleyball games, and was the owner of at least 50 cars, all of which were purchased just for her. (“I bought you something Rosemary”—IYKYK).

Most of all, Rosemary valued education. During her career she earned Bachelor’s, Master’s and Educational Specialist degrees. After she retired from NASCAR, she went back to teaching, acting as the Miller High School Spanish Language Resource Professional until well past her 80th birthday. In 2024, she was honored with the Friend of Education Award from the Southwest Center and Miller High School. Along the way she passed on her love of learning to her children, her students, and anyone else who was fortunate enough to know her. She made hundreds of friends and inspired thousands of students. She left an indelible imprint on the world. 

Rosemary is survived by her three children, Aaron (Maureen) Johnson of Pine, Colorado, Amy (Justin) Taylor, and Joe (Beth) Johnson all of Miller, Missouri; eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. 

Mark Twain once said, “Out of the public schools grows the greatness of a nation.” Teachers like Rosemary are the primary reason why. In keeping with her love of learning, we ask that, in lieu of flowers, you make a memorial contribution to support the Geology Field Education Fund at Northwest Missouri State University. Donations may be submitted online via the Northwest Foundation website or mailed to The Northwest Foundation, 800 University Dr., Maryville, Missouri, 64468 (please note Geology Field Education Fund and Rosemary Johnson on the memo line).

No services are planned at this time. Arrangements are under the direction of Morris-Leiman-Mosher Funeral Home in Miller, Missouri.

Online condolences may be shared at www.FossettMosherFuneralHome.com.