Rosalie May Voorhees

Rosalie Voorhees passed away peacefully on Monday, May 25, 2026, in Kansas City, surrounded by her loving family.

Rosalie May Voorhees, née Stephens, was born on April 25, 1944, to Pearline Minkler and Raymond Stephens at the Stephens farmstead. Family stories tell that her mother milked a cow that evening, and Rosalie was born before Pearline could make it to Garnett.

Rosalie attended grade school at Minkler Star, a one-room schoolhouse named after her great-great-grandfather, Manly Minkler, who donated the land for the schoolhouse.

Rosalie and her family attended Selma Methodist Church, where she participated in youth fellowship and many church activities. She was also one of the founding members of the Selma Flaming 4-H Club and was active in sewing and cooking projects. Her favorite 4-H projects were her Holstein calves.

In 1962, Rosalie graduated from Kincaid High School. That fall, she enrolled at Iola Community College, where she met her future husband, Warren Voorhees, through a college friend.

Rosalie and Warren were married on July 28, 1963, at Selma Methodist Church. They moved to Emporia, Kansas, where their first son, Warren Jr., was born on July 21, 1964, at St. Mary’s Hospital.

In June 1965, the Voorhees family moved to Reading, Kansas. Rosalie was a devoted stay-at-home mother while babysitting, assisting with bookkeeping for Reading Grain & Lumber Co., and serving for several years as the City Treasurer for Reading.

On August 21, 1968, their second son, Raymond Jarrod, was born.

When Warren Jr. became involved in 4-H, Rosalie became a project leader and later served as a community leader. She remained active in leadership roles for many years after her children graduated from 4-H. Rosalie was especially proud to be honored as a 4-H Alumni of the Year at both the county and state levels.

Rosalie also served 16 years on the county Red Cross Board, holding the offices of president and secretary. She was a member of the Board of Directors for Friends of the Emporia Library, where she organized the last book fair held at William Lindsay White Auditorium and the first one at the new library. She also served on the Lyon County Museum Board of Directors, helping coordinate a special museum opening.

In 1977, Rosalie began working at J.C. Penney on Commercial Street in Emporia. She worked in catalog sales and the stockroom and was honored as Volunteer of the Year for her district. When the store relocated to the mall, she became head of the stockroom and maintenance department. After 16 years with J.C. Penney, she retired due to health concerns.

After a year at home, Rosalie returned to work at McDonald’s, where she found joy working alongside high school and college students. During her time there, she met her adopted daughter, Becca Resa. Following a courageous battle with cancer, Rosalie retired permanently.

Rosalie remained active in the Reading community as a member of Reading United Methodist Church, the Reading Lions Club, and the Reading Community Development Club.

Rosalie was preceded in death by her parents, Pearline and Raymond Stephens; her husband, Warren Voorhees; her sister, Jo Ann Anderson; her nephew, Donavan Anderson; and her in-laws, Steve and Flora Fielder, and Barbara Voorhees.

She is survived by her sons, Warren (Michele) Voorhees and Raymond Jarrod (Jessica) Voorhees; her grandchildren, Amber Campbell, Jessica Cruz, Kyle (Dona) Voorhees, Brandon (Hope) Voorhees, and Aryssa Schnell; her step-grandchildren, Brandon Hammons, Bryanna (Todd) Stachura, Nicholas Bakken, Wyatt Bakken, Cody Outler, Garett Holmes, and Shelby Holmes; and her great-grandchildren, Wrangler Scarbrough, Drayson Campbell, Elliana Campbell, Nevaeh Cruz, Luiz Cruz, Sofia Cruz, Jarrod Voorhees, Lilliana Voorhees, Athena Voorhees, Khloe Voorhees, Zyler Schnell, Liam Johnson, and Brayden Stachura.

She is also survived by her adopted daughter, Becca Resa; her siblings, Irene and Virgil Ray, Eugene Stephens, Wayne Anderson, Lee and Ruby Schmidt, and Crystal and Ronny Rohr; her in-laws, George and Sharon Voorhees, and John Voorhees; and honorary grandsons, Mark and David Hanks.

A Funeral Service will be held on Tuesday, June 2, at 10:30 a.m. at Reading United Methodist Church in Reading. A visitation will begin at 9:00 a.m. that same day.