Rosalee Coleman

Rosalee Rhodes Coleman went to be with our Lord on May 25, 2017. She was born in Aurora, Illinois on October 25, 1940, to Dorothy and Charles King. In 1948, the Kings moved their family to Corpus Christi, Texas, and life by the Corpus Christi Bay instilled a deep connection to nature, and all God’s creatures. Her young life in Corpus Christi included competitive horsemanship and spending hours each day riding her horse along Ocean Drive.

She attended Ray High School where she met a small group of life-long friends, affectionately known as “The Pack”, and on July 4, 1959, she married one of them -- Fred (Ted) Rhodes, her high school sweetheart. They moved to George West, Texas in 1959 and bought 200 acres of land, known as the ‘home place’ and 5 Brahman heifers to begin their young ranching operation. For the next 20 years, she and Ted ranched in Live Oak, Bee, McMullen, La Salle and Webb Counties, while building the Live Oak Livestock Auction business. During this time, they also revisited their salt water roots and developed a passion for deep sea fishing and the warm and wonderful community of Port Aransas.

In 1982, she married W.C. Coleman, who encouraged her continued interest in the cattle industry, as well as her growing voice in beef advocacy. By 1990, Rosalee owned and managed a large cow / calf operation in four counties, and in 2009, she became the first female president of the Independent Cattleman’s Association (ICA). She continued to ranch in these rugged South Texas areas until 2012 when she consolidated her ranching efforts to Live Oak County. While her cattle operation scaled down a bit, her voice and passion for the industry certainly did not. She was one of the first U.S. citizens to visit Cuba in the capacity of representing the United States cattle marketing industry, and her advocacy efforts continued throughout her lifetime.

Rosalee’s deep sense of community took root and flourished during her years in George West, Texas. She served as a member, officer, program director and volunteer of the First United Methodist Church for 58 years and she found many ways to give back to people and organizations in need. She had a significant impact in her community through volunteerism, outreach and her ability to always say an encouraging word to the person who needed it most. She had a faith-filled relationship with God, and she looked at each day as an opportunity to help others.

She found her greatest joy in her children, grandchildren, extended family and friends and she was happiest when spending time with her loved ones. The addition of grandchildren in 2003 and 2005 brought new levels of devotion, energy and meaning into her life and into her heart.

In addition to ranching, and her service to the church and community, she enjoyed many memberships and officerships in organizations engaged in the support and growth of the cattle industry, most notably the Brush Country Cattlewomen.

She is survived by her three children and two grandchildren, Amy Rhodes, Anna Rhodes (Steven Victor) and Riley, Darlene, Weston and Walker Rhodes. She is also survived by her brother, Frank King; and sisters-in-law, Marijo King and Rae Ruth Rhodes Ecklund; as well as nine nieces and nephews and their families. Additional survivors include three stepsons, David, Cliff and Shelton Coleman and their families.

She is preceded in death by her mother, Dorothy King; her father, Charles King; and her husband, W.C. Coleman.

Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 30, 2017, at First United Methodist Church in George West, Texas. Funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, May 31, 2017, at First United Methodist Church. Interment will follow at the George West Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First United Methodist Church of George West.

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