Rosemary Garrison Green-Terhune

Rosemary Garrison Green-Terhune, 89, of Indianapolis passed away peacefully in the presence of family on April 25, 2018. She was born on August 24, 1928 in Indianapolis to the late David and Lillian (Ward) Garrison.

Rosemary was many things to many people. First and foremost, she was a mother. Few who met her could leave doubting that she cherished her role as the mother of seven children. She also was blessed with 35 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren. If you ever wanted to see her light up, the surest way was to ask her about one of them. She was always eager to gush about her many family members.

In addition to being a mother, Rosemary was a teacher. She taught in the Indianapolis Public School system for 35 years before retiring. The majority of her teaching years were spent as a 6^th grade teacher at IPS 107. She was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, the NEA, the Indiana Christian Teachers Association and the Indiana Retired Teachers Association. The thing about great teachers, is that they never really stop teaching. This was certainly true of Rosemary. She was always eager to help others learn, and her passion for education served to inspire her children and grandchildren to be life-long learners, with several following her example and going into education themselves. In retirement, she even taught a Spanish class at the local community center.

Rosemary was a romantic. She relished a good love story and was always excited to see her family members find one of their own. What’s more, she welcomed those who joined the family with the same kind of warmth and love that she gave freely to all her family.

She loved music, and her infectious love of singing is shared by nearly all her family, to her credit. Many a wonderful Christmas Eve’s were spent singing carols together with Rosemary beaming and soaking it in.

An avid card player, Rosemary loved to play bridge as well as euchre. The time could be spent in great conversation and enjoying the company of those she played with, but if you were foolish enough to become too distracted, you would find yourself on the losing side quickly. She also enjoyed going bowling.

Last, and most importantly, Rosemary was a devout follower of Jesus Christ. You couldn’t have a conversation with her and not quickly learn the depth of her faith and its role in her life. Rosemary was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church. She was a strong believer who imparted biblical teachings to her children and grandchildren, and took great pride in the number of family members who have devoted themselves to ministry in some form or another.

It is because of her firm faith in Jesus Christ that she was able to walk confidently from this life into the next, to grab the hand of her Savior and run joyously into the anxiously waiting arms of those who have gone before her. It is also this that encourages us, even as we mourn her loss here on earth. We can know with confidence that while we have to say goodbye for now, this is not the end.

Surviving Rosemary are her children Ann (Keith) Erwin, Jimmy (Charlotte Bass) Green, Robert Green, Richard (Patty) Green, Michael (Lisa) Green, Judy (Randy) Kennedy, friend of 25+ years Harley Walton, her twin sisters Edna (Fisher) and Edie (Griffin), and son-in-law Scott Smith; 35 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, two husbands James L. Green Sr. and Harold “Hap” Terhune, three brothers Robert, Richard and James Garrison, a son, infant Green, and daughter Susan Smith.

Visitation will be Thursday, May 3, 2018 from 5:00 pm until 8:00 pm at Flanner Buchanan-Speedway. Funeral services will be held on Friday, May 4, 2018 at 11:00 am at Wesley United Methodist Church with calling one hour prior to the service.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to a charity of your choice.