Rosemary Clopton Quirk quietly slipped away on March 26, 2016 after 97 years on this earth. She was born to Verne M. and Fannie J. Allen Clopton on June 7, 1918 in Ada, Oklahoma. However, when Rosemary's birth was reported to Oklahoma City her date of birth was recorded as July 7. Her mother vouched for the June 7 date "because she was there." So, for all her life Rosemary had 2 birth dates: hers and the one the government gave her.

Rosemary's father was a "wildcatter" when the oil industry was a new business frontier full of risks and adventures. Verne dug a lot of oil wells all over Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma. Rosemary and her siblings Verne, Jr (Buddy), John Allen, and Jane went along. A story that Rosemary told occasionally of the early life was of being awakened by her mother and told to hurry and get dressed. Her mother told her they needed to get out of town because, "A man is looking for your father with a gun." During the wildcat days, Rosemary lived and went to school in east Texas, the valley and graduated from Highland Park High School in Dallas with future Governor Bill Clements. After high school, we assume voluntarily, the Clopton family moved to San Antonio. For three years, Rosemary attended Incarnate Word College where she majored in Spanish but her very favorite subject was math. She never finished college because love intervened.

In 1938, Rosemary met the love of her life on the roof of the St Anthony Hotel. At that time, dances were held on the roof of the St Anthony under the stars. Frank J. Quirk, Sr. asked her to dance. Rosemary and Frank had not met before that evening but they danced the night away. They were married in November of 1938 and the dancing continued until 1992 when he went home after 54 years of marriage.

During the course of their marriage, Rosemary was a homemaker for Frank and their children. Rosemary and Frank had four children and somehow they managed to survive raising 3 rambunctious boys and a lovely, sweet daughter who had a very special place in Rosemary's heart. Son Frank J. Quirk, Jr. died in 2014, daughter Mary Burns Quirk Jones died in 1993, and son Robert Clopton Quirk died in 2015. Son Thomas Edward Quirk is still vertical.

Rosemary played party bridge for many years with a number of groups in homes and other locations. After the death of her husband Frank, Rosemary decided she was going to start playing duplicate bridge and continue her party bridge games with her many friends on many different days. Rosemary has been described as a bridge player extraordinaire. She played in duplicate tournaments in San Antonio and other cities and at the Bridge Club of San Antonio. As a member of American Contract Bridge League her duplicate bridge playing skill earned her 1,222 masters points and the honor and title of Silver Life Master.

Before bridge became a very important part of her life, Rosemary was deeply dedicated and involved in all things Republican. Rosemary was a Republican when there were no Republican office holders in the entire state of Texas. She was a member of the Republican women's clubs, she volunteered time to work on campaigns, she volunteered at the San Antonio Republican Party office headquarters and she donated money to Republican party candidates at the local, state and federal levels. In 1968, Rosemary and Frank were so committed as Republicans they paid for their son Tom, at 17 years old, to attend the National Republican Convention as a Honorary Assistant Sargent at Arms in Miami, FL. Rosemary and Frank were early Ronald Reagan supporters.

There was yet another part in Rosemary life that filled her life with fun: she was an unwavering fan of the Spurs basketball and Longhorn football. So great was her loyalty to the Spurs that she was given the Mary Kathleen Rice Spirit Award for "her enthusiastic, loyal support of the San Antonio Spurs" on November 5, 1988. She and Frank were also given an award when they reached 25 years as season ticket holders. Although she never attended UT, Frank did and they were Life Members of the Texas Exes and spent as many hours as they could watching Texas football. Rosemary love of Spurs basketball and UT football only stopped when she did.

The family wants to send blessings and gratitude to the four caregivers who, day and night, were so loving, tender and always caring for Rosemary over the last period of her life. A heartfelt thank you to Monie Zerr, Shirley Kidd, Joyce Smallwood and Darlene Hickman. The numerous stories they shared with us of fun and joy with Rosemary warmed our hearts. We also want to acknowledge and thank Donna Wellborn, the owner of Seniors Helping Seniors, for providing us with caregivers who truly cared. Donna's people made sure that Rosemary was cared for every minute of every day. Knowing that Rosemary was always cared for was a comfort to all the family.

Family who preceded Rosemary in death and whose passing is not noted above are: Verne M. and Fannie J. Allen Clopton, her parents; siblings: Verne, Jr (Buddy) Clopton, John Allen Clopton, and Jane Clopton Crain. Buddy and John Allen were pilots. Buddy died in World War II and John Allen died during the Korean Conflict. Jane, her younger sister, died in 2006 and William H. Quirk III, her nephew, died in 1998.

Some but not all who are left behind to miss her smile, her warmth and love are: her son, Tom and wife Ann-Marie Cerda Aaron, aka "Sam", Karen Quirk, recent widow of Robert Clopton Quirk, Eldon Jones, widower of Mary Burns Quirk Jones; her grandchildren: Colleen Quirk and husband Tim Derk; Cathleen Quirk Lane and husband Dale Lane; Justin Jones and wife Sarah Costa Jones; Molly Quirk and husband Reed Boyd; Christopher Quirk and wife Stephanie Quirk; Robert K. Quirk aka Rob, Reuben (Daniel) Perez, Nancy Shellhorse and husband David Shellhorse. Great-grand children: Taylor Lane, Griffin Derk, Abaigeal Lane, Mairin Derk, Ryland Quirk, Caden Lane, Paige Shellhorse and Clarke Shellhorse. Niece Mary Lee Quirk Rourke and husband Bill. Nephews: Pat Quirk and wife Artie, Michael Quirk and wife Linda and Charles Z. Crain and wife Lucinda.

A memorial service was held on April 9th in the Mausoleum Chapel at Holy Cross Cemetery followed by a celebration of Rosemary's life at the Barn Door Restaurant, where she and her family enjoyed meals together for 60+ years.

Please consider making a donation, in her honor, to the Republican Party of Bexar County or to your favorite charity.