Rosanne King

Rosanne Peery King

October 23, 1922 ~ July 15, 2018

Rosanne Peery King, 95, passed away on July 15, 2018 at her Ogden home. Rosie was born in Ogden, Utah on October 23, 1922 to Harman Ward Peery, Ogden’s Cowboy Mayor, and Dean Chaffin Peery of Farmington and was the granddaughter of David H. Peery, Ogden’s third mayor. She attended Ogden High School, Stevens College of Columbia, MO and the University of Utah where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Fine Arts. She was an alumna of Pi Beta Phi Sorority.

She met the late Robert W. King, Bob, of Pasadena, CA at Hill Air Force Base where he was stationed. They were married on February 6, 1943 in Stockton, California. After World War II ended they settled in Ogden, Utah. They purchased the Rainbow Gardens from her father, Harman Peery in 1948 and began their lifelong co-adventure with Rainbow Gardens at the Mouth of Ogden Canyon. In the early days, there was dancing in the ballroom and swimming in the natural spring water of the indoor and outdoor pools.

In 1960, they built Rainbow Lanes to further enhance the “clean fun” at Rainbow Gardens.  Rainbow Gardens Gift Shop, as we know it today, was started in 1969 as a small boutique at Rainbow Lanes.  This little shop became Rainbow Imports after it was expanded into the old ballroom in 1970.  Over the years, the store grew into one of the largest gift shops in the West, involving almost all the members of the King family as well as over 60 loyal employees. Today, the Rainbow Center includes Rainbow Gardens Gift Shop, The Greenery Restaurant, Planet Rainbow and My Heritage Fabrics.

Rosanne was very civic minded, she was a member of the Martha Society and the Junior League of Ogden. In the 1970’s she served three terms on the Ogden City Council.  While on the council she pushed for economic development and beautification of the downtown. She also served as the Grand Marshal of Ogden Pioneer Days, which her father had founded.  She was a member of the LDS Church and taught Primary. Rosie and Bob were members of the Ogden Country Club and the Alta Club of Salt Lake. They were early supporters of the Olympics in Utah and were cheering in Budapest when Salt Lake City won the 2002 Olympic bid.  Rosie enjoyed traveling, working in her garden and having parties but most of all she loved to be with her family and friends, especially her lifelong friend Katie Dye.

Rosanne is survived by her five children: Robert Peery King (Richard Milner), William Harman King (Catherine), Russel Riley King (Jane), Harman Peery King (Debbie Callahan), Jennifer King Francl (Michael); grandchildren: Charles Riley King (Erika), Robert William King (Tiffany He), Emily King (Patten Wood), David Peery King, Andrew Frederick Francl, Anne Elizabeth Francl, Abigail Lucille Francl; great-grandchildren: Kevin H Huang, Jackson Riley King, Chloe Johanna King, new baby Vivian Rose Wood; and niece Judy Aguirre.

The family would like to thank Glenda Hackmeister and her daughter Maureen Cahill, as well as Comfort Keepers and Hearts for Hospice for their devoted service to her.  We would also like to thank Margie Becker and Tom Collins for taking great care of her garden and home.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, July 21, 2018 at 11 a.m. at Lindquist’s Ogden Mortuary, 3408 Washington Blvd. Friends may visit with family on Saturday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the mortuary. Interment, Ogden City Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers please make donations to the Peery’s: Egyptian Theater Foundation, PO Box 4, Ogden, UT 84402.