Ms. Rosie L. Warren

Obituary Rosie Lee Gosa-Warren, 96, of Kansas City, Missouri was born September 18, 1924, to the union of Ernest and Mallie Belle Lee Georgia (Stovall) Gosa in Darling, Mississippi. Rosie was the baby of four children from this union. Her parents, sister Ernestine Smith/Riley, brothers, Odvie and Auddie L. Gosa, husband Peter Johnson Warren, children Doris L. Warren-Preston, Attorney Freddie Lawrence Warren, and Carol Warren-Fisher, grand-daughter Karen Le’Shawn Smith, sister-in-law Mary Gosa, nephew Reginald Gosa, niece Jacqueline Gosa-Bass/Jenkins, cousins Teola Gosa-Jefferson and Frances Gosa Duncan, son-in-laws Harvey I, Washington and William E. Smith, Sr., former son-in-law Michael Fisher and granddaughter-in-law Lena Buckner-Smith and a special Christian friend, Alma White preceded her in death. Rosie received her primer school education in the Darling, Mississippi School System – completing elementary and secondary schooling in Wardell and Caruthersville, Missouri. At ten years of age, Rosie accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior – uniting with the Eagle Grove Baptist Church in Mississippi. After her marriage, she joined the Second Baptist Church in Wardell, Missouri. Upon moving to Kansas City, Missouri in the early 1940’s, she joined the Paseo Baptist Church under D. A. Holmes where she remained a faithful member until her health declined ending at her sunset. Rosie was united in holy matrimony, in Wardell, Missouri, to Peter Johnson Warren. From this union, five children, Betty Jean, Freddie Lawrence, Doris Laverne, Carol and Deborah Yvonne were born. In the mid 1980’s, she was briefly married to Deacon Henry C. Allen. The marriage ended with her petition for an annulment. Rosie loved her church and was an active member of Sunday School Class #5 – serving as the president, the Mary Bostic Missionary Circle – serving as treasurer and devotion leaders and a faithful participant of the Wednesday morning bible study and prayer service and other church functions. She was a member of the New Era District Association’s Circle Chairperson’s Auxiliary where she often served as devotion chair. She loved to visit and send cards of encouragement to the sick/shut-in, bereaved, forgotten and downtrodden. When members of her Sunday School class were absent or shut-in, she called and followed up by personally delivering or mailing (at her expense) a Sunday School book and Daily Bread. Rosie’s employment included Pratt and Whitney, a governmental production plant and Brandon Pruitt Garment Factory. She worked for members of the Sosland family. Her last employer was Blanche Sosland (later Blanche Sosland-Laperi). Miss Rosie, as she was often called, was impeccably dressed with every hair in place and nails well-manicured. She did not dress to be seen, to get attention or to be envied. She came up in a time when women as well as men took pride in their appearance and exemplified the meaning of “dress for success”. It was second nature. A refined lady, she laid the foundation for who we are with her taste for travel, fine dining, entertaining, home décor and style. She epitomized what it meant to be a lady and felt women should be “ladies” at all costs. Miss Rosie loved the Lord and was grounded in the His word – relying on her life experiences, prayer and scripture in counseling and mentoring family, friends and church members. She was devoted to and extremely protective of her family. Although Rosie was quiet and unassuming there was a caveat – there was just so far she would allow you to go. Then she could artfully diffuse a situation – first “with that look” and for those who failed to get the message she could gracefully back you off without raising her tone or using an expletive. Rosie Lee Warren departed this life at Truman Medical Center, with family members surrounding her bed, reading scripture, devotional passages and praying for and over her – telling her who they were and saying I love you with her oldest granddaughter singing to her and playing some of her favorite gospel songs. She mouthed the words as Mahalia Jackson sang Precious Lord and when the family recited the 23rd Psalms. “Miss Rosie” leaves a legacy of leaning on and trusting God, hugs, kisses and embraces – always before departing saying I love you! She taught us not to harbor grudges or anger. She instilled in us how you presented yourself mattered. It reflected the way you felt about yourself, how you treated others, your posture, relationships, work performance and home environment. If you dressed or carried yourself like trash you attracted the same. Rosie leaves to cherish her memory and celebrate her home going her daughters, Betty Warren-Smith and Deborah Warren-Washington; grandchildren, DeLana Smith-Sattarin, William E. Smith, Jr., Sherri Smith-Dunlap (Tracy), Karland Fisher-Landa (Patrick), Michael Fisher, Jr., and Miyalina Rose Washington; great grandchildren, Jason E. Smith, Christian D. Smith, Alexandra, Gabrielle, Isaac, Nicholas, and Jonathan Dunlap, Briana, Darrion, Devonte, DaMonte, Lamonte, Miyalina Rose and Mykale Washington and Claire and Lorelai Landa; great-great grandchildren, MaKylie and Myrackle Green; niece, Geraldine “Geri” Gosa; a host of cousins, other relatives and a special Christian friend, Leona Hamilton. Funeral Service will be held Saturday, October 2, 2021, 12:00pm at Paseo Baptist Church. Interment Blue Ridge Lawn Cemetery. Visitation will be from 11am-12pm at the church. Service conducted by Lawrence A. Jones & Sons Funeral Chapel. Condolences may be shared on our website. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Ms. Rosie L. Warren, please visit our floral store. Read More

Ms. Rosie L. Warren

September 18, 1924 - September 16, 2021