Rosemary Hood

Rosemary Ann Hood, 89, of Gettysburg and formerly of Boise City, Oklahoma, passed away Saturday, January 20, 2024, at Avera Oahe Manor, Gettysburg.

Memorial services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, March 15, 2024, at St. Paul's United Methodist Church, Boise City, OK, with Boyd Perry presiding. Inurnment will follow in the Kenton Cemetery, Kenton, OK.

Rosemary Ann Hughes was the second child born to Virgil E. and Kathryn H. (Quinlan) Hughes in Clayton, New Mexico on January 8, 1935. Her older sibling was stillborn, so she was raised as an only child. Her early years were spent up above Kenton, OK in Sheep Pen Canyon.  She started school in a little one room school called Cowboy College over in New Mexico.  In 1943, her parents bought the ranch East of Boise City.  She attended school in Keyes, OK prior to her and her mother staying in Boise City where she graduated from Boise City High School with the class of 1952. She joined St. Paul’s Methodist Church on November 1, 1953. After high school she went to Trinidad Community College in Trinidad, Colorado, graduating with an associate degree in business. After graduation she went to work for R.J. French who was an oil and gas landman as a secretary. His grandchildren remember her always having a stick of gum for any children that came to the office.

Rosemary was united in marriage to James Melville “Jim” Belford on May 6, 1956.  To this union one son was born, James Joeseph Belford, whom they lovingly called Jimmy Joe.  Jim preceded Rosemary in death in June of 1978. A short nine months later, her father died leaving Rosemary and Kathryn to take care of the farming and ranching operations of their respective spouses with the help of the 11-year-old son and grandson.  On October 28, 1979, Rosemary was united in marriage to Thomas C. “Jack” Hood. Jack preceded Rosemary in death in October of 2004. Rosemary continued to work at the ranch until the family relocated to South Dakota in 2013.

She started sitting on the church organ bench with Mrs. Palmer at the Methodist church when she was still in school. She played the piano and later the organ at St. Paul’s Methodist Church.  However, no matter where the music was needed Rosemary willingly shared her musical talents even traveling with an electronic keyboard. When the school kids needed accompaniment for their solos, she practiced with them whether at the school or her house to help each child get their solo the best they could before the contest.

She is survived by her son, James J. “Jim” (Connie) Belford, Gettysburg, SD; stepson, Steven Ted (Jill) Hood, Bellaire, TX; seven grandchildren: Brady Dixon, Oklahoma City, OK, Kathryn “Katy” (Jakob) Jennings, Groom, TX, James R. “J.R.” Belford, Watertown, SD, Brian Hood, Pensacola, FL, Joshua Hood, Panama City Beach, FL, Stacy Wade, and Alisha Cerda, Shawnee, OK; two great grandchildren: Grayson James Belford and Ella May Jennings with the third, Jaxon Claude Jennings, expected soon; sister-in-law, Sandy Belford, Stillwater, OK; nephews, Rusty Belford, Marshal, OK and Billie Bob Belford, Overland Park, KS; and niece, Holly Davis, Stillwater, OK.

Rosemay was preceded in death by her parents, Virgil and Kathryn Hughes; her older sister; and her husbands, Jim Belford and Jack Hood.

Luce Funeral Home of Gettysburg has been entrusted with Rosemary’s arrangements.