Rose Ann Pejaszek McWilliams, 87, of Big Lake, Texas, passed away on December 19, 2017.
She was born in Sheridan, Illinois on June 19, 1930. “MaMac” graduated from Presbyterian School of Nursing, receiving her diploma and her Registered Nurse license.
She was married to Erwin Sherwood McWilliams, who preceded her in death in 1990.
Rose, more affectionately know as “MaMac”, initiated the first and only LVN classes at Reagan Memorial Hospital, then continued as Director of Nursing, and as interim Administrator for a period of time, until she retired, and then continued at the hospital as Pharmacy and Materials Manager part-time, until she decided to retire from the hospital and continue with her passions at home.
These included a voracious reading appetite, and she was well-known and cherished for her cooking and baking skills.
During the Christmas season, she made her own home-made spiced tea and hot chocolate mixes, pumpkin bread, peanut and chocolate peanut butter fudges.
Her list of those she made these for grew as she began to regard more and more people as family, and who treated her as family as well.
Many also requested her pies and cakes as well as her hot chocolate and spiced tea mixes for birthday and other celebrations or as gifts throughout the year.
MaMac was a member of The First United Methodist Church in Big Lake, where she enthusiastically enjoyed communing with Pastor Larry Young, other members and celebrants in the church, especially the children.
She also enjoyed Bible Study Classes coordinated by Karen McDonald, who MaMac respected greatly for her spiritual strength.
MaMac is survived by her children, Karen Oliver and husband Jack, Karla Egger, Gary McWilliams and wife Amy, and grandchildren Cody Gore, Marty Gore, Cheryl Hisey and husband Joe, Kadyn McWilliams, Gyna Mae McWilliams, and Mallory Plagens and fiance Brady Willis, great-grandchildren Reese and Parker Gore, Elizabeth “Lizzy” Gore, Porter Hisey and Gunner Plagens, and sister-in-law (more closely regarded as her sister).
MaMac also had many close friends and neighbors who she felt to be more as family, including Deona Thompson, Mary Bobb, Elynor Webb and daughter Cheryl Neill, Chad, Amy, Brittany and Hannah Armstrong, Ronnie, Karen and Katie, Angel and Selenna Oliveras, Jeff and Molly Bobb and sons.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Colonel Stanley and Frances Pejaszek, sister, Jean Jordan and her brother, Ron Pejaszek.
Funeral arrangements were held on December 22, 2017 at the First United Methodist Church of Big Lake with graveside services following at Glen Rest Cemetery in Big Lake.
The family would like to extend a special word of appreciation to the staff of 4 north of Shannon Medical Center for the wonderful care extended to their mother.
They would also like to thank the Speech Therapy, Physical Therapy, and the Respiratory therapy departments at Shannon Medical Center an all other specialty units who helped in providing care to their mother as well as all of the staff and Doctors at Reagan County Medical Center.
Arrangements were under the direction of Johnson’s Funeral Home.
