Mrs. Wheatley was born November 8, 1918, in Arrington, Kansas to Lloyd and Daisy (Smith) Estes. She first taught school in Gypsum, Kansas then in Colorado Springs for 21 years. She was a member of the First Congregational Church, Retired School Employees and Delta Kappa Gamma.

Rosemarie and Rush Wheatley were married in Belleville, Kansas in 1942. They celebrated 54 years of marriage before his death in 1996.

Rosemarie is survived by two daughters, Linda LeCrone (husband Skip) and Ann Hayden (husband Bob) all of Colorado Springs: two sisters, Dorothy Adams of Portland, Oregon, and Emma Prather of San Diego, California; three brothers, Paul Estes of Middleburg, Florida, Jack Estes of Arkadelphia, Arkansas and Richard Estes of Shannon, Georgia. She leaves three grandchildren, Ken LeCrone of Centennial, Colorado, Preston Hayden of Colorado Springs, and Melissa Conrey of Phoenix, Arizona. Rosemarie also leaves five wonderful great grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held Friday, August 13, 2004, at 3:30 p.m. at Swan Law Cascade Chapel. Graveside inurnment will be Monday, August 16, 2004, in Gypsum Cemetery, Gypsum, Kansas.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Music Committee of the First Congregational Church, 20 E. St. Vrain St., Colorado Springs, CO 80903 or to Pikes Peak Hospice, 825 E. Pikes Peak Av., Suite 600, Colorado Springs, CO 80903.