Rosie Christian

Rosetta “Rosie” Eleanor Christian, 88, a longtime resident of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, passed away on October 21, 2026. Rosetta proudly lived almost her entire life in Poplar Bluff, with the exception of the last year when she relocated to the Kansas City area for health-related reasons. She was born on January 7, 1938, to Otto and Maude (Fredwell) Mitchelle. In her early years she attended Baskey School and graduated from Poplar Bluff High School where she served as a cheerleader for the PBHS Mules. She married Myron Rowland Christian on July 31, 1954, at the New Home General Baptist Church in Poplar Bluff. They were married seventy-one years.

Rosetta’s faith was an important part of her life. Over the years, she regularly attended church services at New Home General Baptist Church where she sang in a gospel quartet. Later she attended the Westside Church of God and more recently, she was part of the church family at Agee Fellowship Church in Poplar Bluff before relocating to the Kansas City area.

Rosetta enjoyed the outdoors and spent many hours planting and cultivating a large vegetable garden each summer as well as working in her yard and tending to her flowers which she affectionally referred to as “the girls”. She enjoyed fishing at Lake Wappapello, quilting circles with church ladies, canning crops from the garden, and baking and cooking for her family. Rosie could “whip up” a freshly made coconut crème pie as fast as anyone, all from scratch. She and her husband were dedicated St Louis Cardinals baseball fans. During the winter months, she loved the friendships she developed while bowling in women’s leagues at Bluff Lanes.

Rosetta was preceded in death by her parents, Otto and Maude, her husband Myron Christian and a sister, Helen Willingham. She is survived by two children, Debbie Christian of Cypress, TX and Joe Christian of Kansas City. MO; two grandchildren, Jacob (Aprell) Christian of Merritt Island, FL and Kate (Nick) Thompson of Overland Park, KS; great-grand daughter Juniper Christian and a ‘soon to be born’ great-grandson Thompson. She is also survived by her sister, Marilyn Edwards of Bonne Terre, MO and her brother, Otto (Sonny) Mitchelle, Jr of Poplar Bluff, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Graveside services will be held on Tuesday. October 27, 2026, at 11:00 am at Poplar Bluff City Cemetery with Pastor Jim Schremp officiating. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Agee Fellowship Church in memory of Rosetta. The family wishes to extend their appreciation for the tremendously loving care and support Rosie received from the staff at Brookdale College Square in Overland Park, KS.

Cotrell Willow Ridge Funeral & Cremation Services is honored to serve the family and friends of Rosetta Christian. Online condolences can be made at www.cwrfcs.com.