Rosemary Elaine McGirr Patterson Smith

JANUARY 15, 1944 - SEPTEMBER 04, 2026

Sadly, on Friday, September 4, 2026, Rosemary passed away after a sudden illness. She was a devoted servant of the Lord.

Rosemary Elaine McGirr was born January 15, 1944, to Elaine and Ralph McGirr in Washington, D.C., during a blizzard. Her parents later moved to Arlington and Alexandria, Virginia. Ralph was a sergeant in the Marine Corps, and Elaine worked for the Navy. Ralph was transferred to Akron, Ohio, and in 1945 Rosemary’s brother, Gary, was born. Wanting to return to Elaine’s hometown, the family moved to Topeka, Kansas, when Ralph transferred to the IRS.

Rosemary attended Sumner Grade School, Roosevelt Junior High School, and Topeka High School. In 1956, Rosemary attended Lake Shawnee Day Camp, where she was selected as Best Camper. She later became a junior and senior leader and an assistant counselor. Rosemary graduated from Washburn University with a Home Economics Degree.

In 1964, she met John A. Patterson, and they were married in August 1965. Their son, John Mark Patterson, was born in 1966. After John left the Air Force and began working for IBM, the family moved to Arkansas. They lived in Russellville for a year and Fayetteville for two years before returning to Topeka. After a year in Topeka, they moved to Dallas, Pennsylvania, near John’s boyhood home of Lattimer Mines. John and Rosemary owned a photography business for seven years before they separated and Rosemary moved to Spokane, Washington, where John Mark graduated from North Central High School.

In 1985, Rosemary left Spokane and returned to Topeka, where she began working for the Shawnee County District Court. John Mark attended Spokane Falls Community College and later moved to Lawrence, Kansas, where he graduated from the University of Kansas. Rosemary continued working for the court system for 22 years before retiring in 2008.

In 1991, Rosemary met Ken Smith, and they married in 1992. They shared many adventures together until his passing in 2020.

Rosemary loved knitting and quilting, but it was her love of knitting and God that inspired her to start a prayer shawl ministry at Grace United Methodist Church. Through the ministry, she made more than 100 shawls to bring comfort to people during times of sorrow and hardship.

Rosemary was a lifelong member of Grace United Methodist Church. She loved attending Mugler family reunions, and over the years she “adopted” many other individuals and families into her life and heart.

Rosemary was preceded in death by her parents, Ralph and Elaine McGirr; her husband, Ken Smith; and her former husband, John A. Patterson. She is survived by her son, John Mark Patterson (Cathy Bowles); her brother, Gary (Bobbie) McGirr; her niece, Lisa (Paul) Regnier, and their children, Jake (Parker), Jaycie, and Jolie; her nephew, Jason McGirr, and his daughter, Jordan; as well as many other loving extended family members and friends.

A memorial service celebrating Rosemary’s life will be held October 15, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Grace United Methodist Church in Topeka, Kansas.

In keeping with Rosemary’s wishes, memorial contributions may be made in her memory to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in lieu of flowers. Donations may be made online at T2T.org or StJude.org.