Rosemary Torney was born March 11, 1926 in San Francisco, the only child of Violet Truell and Sydney Austin Chester. Rosemary was raised in the Cow Hollow area of San Francisco; she was educated at Katharine Branson’s, and attended University of Reno.

In 1950 Rosemary Chester married George Henry Torney III of Pacific Heights. They moved from San Francisco to Marin County, where they raised three children; Cristine, Scott and Katharine.

Through the years Rosemary made and kept life-long friendships with many dear friends –- visiting and social gatherings were important to Rosemary as she enjoyed company, festivity and entertaining. Rosemary was most happy when she was busy with family, dance, music, and gardening until she retired from State Compensation Insurance in San Francisco; at that time traveling became her passion. She traveled abroad extensively and also enjoyed Elderhostels throughout the United States, always enjoying her friendships with those she traveled with and making new friends with those she met.

Rosemary’s favorite flowers were violets; her favorite colors were Navy and Baby Blue. When she gardened, she would leave little spaces and empty pots for birds to set up their nests in and then watch with joy & amazement when the young birds hatched. A few of her favorite memories were of her younger days in the hustle and bustle of San Francisco, watching the building of the Golden Gate Bridge, going to the San Francisco International Exposition, and shopping on fashionable Chestnut or Market Streets with she and her mother in white gloves and pumps.

Rosemary moved from Marin County to Humboldt County and into Timber Ridge in 2008. Over the past 8+ years, she understood why her daughter relocated to this beautiful area and enjoyed herself most on drives by the ocean side and near the great Redwoods.

Rosemary leaves her eldest daughter Cristine, son-in-law Richard, and granddaughter Lyla Albert of Novato, and her youngest daughter Katharine and son-in-law Michael Eagan of Eureka and grandchildren Scott, Kelly & husband Nick, Kim and Andre and Kerry & husband Jeff, Great-grandchildren: Sean, Tiernan, Milana, Maddy, Legacy, Alana, Shannon, Lily, Layla, Jasmine, and Toby, and great-great granddaughter Kaedline. Rosemary joins her son Scott who passed away too early in his young life.

We would like to thank several people in this community including; Tim Haskett, mom’s primary practitioner who listened attentively, and whom she considered a friend. We thank the countless nurses, staff and doctors at St. Joseph hospital who were always there in times of emergency. We thank Dr. John Albertini and medical assistant Trisha for your kindness, compassion and hope. We thank Hospice of Humboldt, who helped lead us through a very difficult and dark time. And most of all, we thank the staff and management of Timber Ridge for your constant care, your watchfulness, your kindness, compassion and support throughout the past 8 years.

Mom, you will always be with us in spirit and remain in our hearts forever.

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The obituary above was submitted by Rosemary Torney’s family. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.