Write a commentFulton local Rosemary Story turns one hundred years old on Wednesday, October 4th.
Rosemary Story had just gotten home from a doctor's appointment, and her white hair was being given a "birthday trim" by her granddaughter Molly Brown when I arrived. Rosemary turns one hundred years old on Wednesday, October 4th. Her family and friends will gather to watch, as the city of Fulton honors her special day with a drive-by parade on Wednesday afternoon.
Rosemary was born in Almirante, Panama in 1923. "Her father was a railroad tycoon," said her daughter Amy Brown. "He sent his wife and family back to the U.S. so the children would get a better education. They eventually settled here in Fulton."
Rosemary graduated from Fulton High School at age 16, and found work as a dancer and a dancing instructor. "I was asked to audition for the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes, but I wasn't tall enough," Rosemary said. "I guess I was born too short!"
She met her husband Rossman "Ross" Story through a mutual love of music. "He was a piano player and I was a dancer," Rosemary remembered. "We would perform at the same shows and dances, and we just fell in love."
The couple was married for 48 years, and had four children; Joe, Jim (who today lives next door to his mother), John and Amy.
Amy said, "Mom still loves to dance. I'll come in and find her in the living room, swaying to Lawrence Welk."
Sadly, Ross passed away in 1998 after 48 years of marriage. "We just missed being together for 50 years,” Rosemary said. "We had 4 children, 6 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren together. And we always had music in our hearts."
When asked her secret to living such a long and satisfying life, Mrs. Story said it was, "my faith in almighty God and his angels. It's his will that I’ve been here this long."
Granddaughter Molly chimed in, "That and the fact that she's the most stubborn, bullheaded and insistent woman on the planet." This trait served Rosemary well when she worked as an executive secretary to the manager of the Nestlè factory in Fulton later in her career.
"I've had a good life and a wonderful family. That's what it's all about, and too many people miss out on that. I have been blessed."
Please join with all of us at iHeart Oswego in wishing Rosemary Story a wonderful day as she celebrates her 100th birthday, and that she is able to celebrate many more.
