09/03/2026
Rosalee Caldwell was welcomed into her heavenly home on September 1, 2026, after a long illness.
She was born at home in Mellin, Ritchie County, WV, on January 1, 1930, to Benjamin
and Flossie Smith Stanley.
Rosalee was the second of three daughters. She started school at the age of 4. It helps when
your mother is the teacher.
She graduated from Cairo High School at the age of 16, where she
was a member of the Girls’ Basketball team. She said she was a pretty good foul shooter.
After high school, she and her sister, Virginia, moved to Harrisville to start working at the
garment factory as a piece goods sewer.
Later, she married Virgil C. Morton, also from Mellin, and moved to Spencer, WV, where they
started their family.
After Ramona (Mona) and Charlie were born, they bought a small farm at
Clover, where their daughter Jennifer was born. Rosalee later married James C Caldwell and
had a daughter, Jamie Lea.
Rosalee wore many hats: wife, mom, farmer, housewife, seamstress, rural mail carrier,
bookkeeper, tax preparer, and her dream job as an LPN. She worked the 3-11 shift at the
Spencer State Hospital. She studied all night and went to school at the Arch Moore Vo-Tech
Center during the day.
Rosalee was 59 when she earned her LPN degree. We were all so
proud of her.
She practiced her loved profession for 15 years at Roane General Hospital. Rosalee always
wanted to be a nurse because she loved how pretty and clean they looked in their white
dresses, hats, hose, and shoes. Plus, her Aunt Ruth was an RN and her inspiration.
She took pride in her home and flowers. Often, you could see her out working in her flowers
or doing something at her beautiful house on Church Street.
On a warm summer evening, you
could find her sitting on her porch swinging and watching her grandson, Caden, and his friend
playing some kind of ball in the street.
Rosalee attended Faith Baptist Church of Spencer for many years. She loved the Lord and loved
going to church wearing her hats. We are so grateful for Pastor Justin and the church for the
love and prayers they have shown for her and us.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husbands, Virgil Morton and James Caldwell; her
two sisters, Louise Echard, and Virginia and husband, Cecil Boone; niece, Diane Echard; and
nephews, David and Jim Echard, and other relatives.
Those who will cherish and carry on her memory are Mona (Rick) Goodall of Fayetteville, WV;
Charlie (Sandy) Morton of Clover, WV; Jennifer (David) Butcher of Cross Lanes, WV; Jamie Caldwell (Ken Bourne) of Spencer, WV. Grandchildren include Jessica Goodall Anderson of Mt. Pleasant, SC; Bryce (Marissa) Goodall of Huntersville, NC; Levi Morton of Clover, WV; and
Caden Caldwell of Spencer, WV. She has two beautiful great-granddaughters, Shay and Rory
Goodall, of Huntersville, NC. Rory shares a birthday with her great-grandmother and will carry
on the January 1st birthday celebration. She also has three step-children and their families to
cherish her memory.
There are some special people we would like to mention who have shown love and care to our
mom: Melba Starcher, for being a faithful Christian who sent cards and the Daily Bread booklet; Ken Bourne, for being her breakfast and lunch companion while she was in Long-Term
Care at Roane General.
A very special thank you to Ruth Bradley for the friendship and
kindness while being her roommate; all the staff at Roane General Long Term Care who cared
for her. Thanking Hospice for all the care and comfort they gave her in the last weeks of Mom’s stay on earth.
A graveside service will be held on Friday, September 4, at 11:00 am at the Clover Cemetery.
The service is open to whoever would like to attend.
Thanks to Taylor-Vandale Funeral Home for handling
the arrangements and to Alisa’s Unique Designs for the beautiful flowers.
Expressions of sympathy can be made to two of Mom’s favorite organizations, St. Jude’s
Children’s Hospital or the Roane County Animal Shelter.
We have felt the love and prayers from all the family and friends. We will always carry her
memory in our hearts.
Rest well, Mom; your work on earth is finished. Until we see you
again... we love you.
