Rosemary (nee Murphy) Laxson was born and raised in the small Indiana town of Mecca. Her father ran a country store in town but she spent much of her time on her grandparent's heritage farm in the Wabash valley. With her young cousins she explored the surrounding hills and woods, played in the hayloft of the massive barn, got chased by Grandma's geese and rode her pony - getting thrown jumping a hedge which ended her equestrian career.

Rosemary was an excellent student even though suffering from poor eyesight - she wore thick heavy glasses. She was small for her age and not much into sports except cheering the local basketball teams. After high school in Mecca, she went to Indiana State University and graduated in three years with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education and Business Management. Faced with the problem of having students bigger than her, she chose to work for the Army at the nearby Wabash River Ordnance Depot as a secretary/personnel manager. She left her home environment at age 25 and came to Dayton to work at Wright Patterson as a secretary in the Foreign Technology Division. There she met her engineer husband to be, Bill, and they were married in 1954.

After four years working for the Air Force, Rosemary switched careers and in 1957 she started teaching 2nd grade in Beavercreek. She enjoyed teaching the little ones. The class parents gave her a "Teacher of the Year Award" in appreciation. She only taught for one year, but the introduction to Beavercreek was most favorable and lasting. In 1958, the Laxsons built their new home in Apple Valley.

Rosemary had two sons, Billy and Brad, who were fortunately good students and marching band members. She found herself an active band parent supporting fund raisers and chaperoning the summer band camps. She also lobbied for a gifted children's program in the Beavercreek system. She was able to travel quite extensively both domestically and to Europe and Southern Africa. She spent an educational year in Washington, D.C. while Bill attended the National War College.

Rosemary helped create and was an early president of a number of local organizations including the Beavercreek Women's League, Friends of the Library, and the Beavercreek Women's Republican Club. She was an active member of the Beavercreek Incorporation Impact Task Force and served on the Beavercreek Bicentennial Celebration Finance Committee. In 1979 she was hired as the first Office Manager for the newly formed Beavercreek Chamber of Commerce. She organized a neighborhood bowling league, ran a Mary Kay Beauty consultant business and volunteered at Hospice of Dayton. In her later years, her very active life slowed as she was afflicted with macular degeneration.

Rosemary passed on March 27, 2023 and is survived by her husband of 68 years, Bill, son Bradley and two grandchildren, Jack and Katie. A remembrance and celebration of her life will be held at a later date.