Oak Harbor, Wa

Rose Marie Lyons died March 31, 2025, at age 90 at Whidbey Health Medical Center, Coupeville, Washington following a cardiac event. She was born Rose Marie Fernandes on September 7, 1934, in Lincoln, California to Manuel R. Fernandes and Mary C.(Nunes) Fernandes.

Rose was raised in Lincoln and later moved to Santa Cruz, California in 1950 where they lived on Trescony Street. She graduated from Santa Cruz High, home of the “Cardinals”, Class of 1953. She was a model student and still found time to work at the local “Foster’s Freeze” on Laurel Avenue after school. She attended various class reunions over the years, stayed in contact with several of her former classmates and kept up to date through the alumni newspaper.

After high school, Rose worked for the local telephone company as a local &long-distance telephone operator. She met her husband, Jack, in Santa Cruz while taking lunch to her father, Manuel, where he bartended at the “Buckhorn Tavern”. Rose and Jack fell in love and were married in Reno, Nevada on February 20, 1954, and remained so for 52 years until Jack’s passing in 2006.

After marriage, Rose relocated to Bremerton, Washington, to Berkley, California and then in 1964 to San Diego, California where they remained until 1999. She dedicated herself to being the perfect homemaker and Navy wife. While her husband served in the U.S. Navy for 33 years and at sea or deployed, she managed every aspect of the home including all the finances, car repairs, doctor visits, schooling, and the raising of their 3 children, Jeffrey, Deborah and Jack Jr. She was devoted to her family, friends and community. In 1999 Rose and her husband relocated to Whidbey Island, Washington to be close to their son Jack Jr., who was also in the U.S. Navy.

Rose loved to crochet, she loved her dogs…especially her German Shepherds, she liked the slot machines, loved shopping on QVC and above all, was an enthusiastic BINGO player. She would often drive herself and a few of her girlfriends to play BINGO several nights of the week in her self-described “BINGO Bus” and meticulously kept track of everyone’s winnings.

Rose was preceded in death by her parents, Manuel and Mary Fernandes, husband, Jack, son Jeffrey, daughter Deborah, sister Isabel and brother Manuel. She is survived by one son, Jack Jr. and his partner David both of Oak Harbor, six grandchildren and eighteen great grandchildren also survive.

The family would like to thank Rose’s “Visiting Angels” caregiver, Daysha, and the Doctors, Nurses & Staff of Whidbey Health Medical Center for the care and compassion they showed our loved one in her final days.

Rose requested no formal funeral services be conducted. Cremation was held with private family internment to follow at a later date. Arrangements were entrusted to The Neptune Society, Bellingham, WA.