Rose Marie Sandefur, nee Owen, 76, of Fairview Heights, IL, born Friday, January 13, 1933, in E. St. Louis, IL, died Sunday, August 23, 2009 at her residence in Fairview Heights.

Mrs. Sandefur was a life time member of Winstanley Baptist Church. Already an accomplished pianist by junior high, she became Winstanley's organist while still in high school and continued as the organist for more than 40 years. She was the Accompanist for numourous groups including Note Worthies, Masquers and Broadway musicial varities. She sung in the Masterworks Chorale and played the organ part-time at Kurrus Funeral Home.

Rose was very bright and "cute" as a child, and grew to become a remarkably intelligent and beautiful wife and mother. She was, as they used to say, "one smart cookie".

She taught each of her children how to read before they started school, and also how to think for themselves; to question everything, and to always make up their own minds. She also taught them tolerance, charity and compassion.

After her family and friends, her two great loves were music and her church. Rose loved to travel with her husband Larry, cook, laugh, read for pleasure, or just hang out with her friends from the Ruth Class at church.

She is preceded in death by:

• Parents: Edward Day and Lucille nee Anderson Owen
• Sister: Doris Talley