Rose Hilmers (Teal) passed away peacefully the morning of February 27, 2025 in her adopted hometown of Livingston, Texas. Right up until the very end, Rose maintained her strong-willed and independent spirit – choosing to live independently until less than six weeks before her passing.
Rose was born in Houston, Texas on December 2, 1931 to James W. Hilmers Sr. and Emma Mae Shawl. Raised in a large family consisting of four sisters and three brothers, Rose longed for independence early on, choosing to marry for the first time only days after her 18th birthday. Rose married Eddie W. Brown on December 5, 1949. Though the marriage was short-lived, the couple had one child – Cathryn “Cathy” – on December 14, 1950.
Rose then went on to marry Leslie E. Meyer on March 14, 1951. Later that year, the couple’s first child, Mary, was born – also on December 14. In the years that followed though, they went on to have five more children and not one other child was born in December: Carol (“Annie”) was born in March 1953, Leslie Jr. in August 1954, Rose Jr. in October 1955, James (“Pete”) in November 1956, and finally, Pamela (“Pam”) in August 1959. Though their relationship was tumultuous at best, and they suffered many hard times and financial difficulties, they endured until January of 1976 – aptly the bicentennial of American Independence.
Rose then married George Teal in March 1976 – a relationship that would span the remainder of his life. After George’s passing, Rose went on to marry again in March 2001, marrying Lock “Hershal” Bass. Hershal would also sadly pass away. And, though never formalized, Rose and Guy “Biggie” Jones shared the remainder of his life as well.
While married to George, Rose pursued a career in sales and went on to become a successful Avon representative while also operating her own sewing and alteration business from their home in Livingston. In addition to being a phenomenal sales rep for Avon, Rose was also artistically inclined. Having played the accordion since childhood, Rose would later learn and love playing the organ as well – a pastime she enjoyed well into her 90s. Rose and George enjoyed hunting, fishing, and camping together, while she and Hershal shared their love of music.
As a seamstress, Rose created innumerable beautiful quilts, rugs, clothing, curtains, and more. Rose pursued the arts right up until the end – never stopping sewing, weaving cloth rugs, and playing the organ until her fingers would simply no longer cooperate. One of the other past-times she pursued was completing word searches – an endeavor which kept her mind agile into her early 90s.
Rose is predeceased by her parents, James W. Hilmers, Sr. and Emma Mae Shawl; her brothers: James W. Hilmers Jr., George, and Dennis; her youngest daughter, Pamela Meyer (Meador), and her grandson, Nathan Franks. She is survived by her four younger sisters, Carol Hilmers, Martha Hilmers (McMillan), Mary Hilmers (Devries), and Phyllis Hilmers (Gamble); her children, Cathryn “Cathy” Brown (Franks), Mary Meyer (Kindrick), Carol “Annie” Meyer (Shrieve), Leslie E. Meyer Jr., Rose L. Meyer Jr. and James “Pete” Meyer; her grandchildren, Samantha Davis, Elizabeth Santos, Annette Mills, Lacey Page, Rhonda Proctor, Carrie Meyer, Duke Meyer, Leslie E. Meyer III (“Sonny”), Lynette Meyer, Suzy Paxton, Katy Paxton, Bubba Paxton, Levi Meyer, Jamie Meyer, Leslie Meyer and Andrea Meyer; and numerous great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.
A celebration of Rose’s life will be held on Sunday, March 9, 2025, at the Shepherd Community Center from 1-4 p.m.
