Mrs. Rosalie Drewer Taylor Daley, 74, of Onancock, passed away unexpectedly Wednesday, April 21, 2021, at University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville, Va.
Born July 19, 1946, she was the daughter of the late Frances Rusher Drewer and the late William Thomas Drewer, of Onancock. Rosalie loved living in Onancock and made many lifelong friends there, both at school and within the community. She graduated from Onancock High School in 1964 and attended Mary Washington College (now University of Mary Washington) in Fredericksburg, Va. She was incredibly kind, thoughtful, generous, compassionate, fun, and especially loving in her many roles, personally and professionally.
Rosalie owned and managed Atlantic Food Mart in Atlantic for many years, brightening everyone’s day with her beautiful smile and creating “the place to go” for delicious fried chicken and cheesesteak subs. She was a bookkeeper for Wright’s Seafood Restaurant in Atlantic and later worked as an executive administrative assistant for the U.S. Navy at NASA Wallops Flight Facility, Wallops Island. While she excelled at all she did, her favorite roles were that of daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, niece, aunt, cousin, and friend. Nothing made her happier than being with and doing for those she loved. Known for her beautiful handwriting, she sent countless cards and letters. She was a talented seamstress, making clothes and costumes for her children, smocking christening gowns, and creating beautiful items for her home. Rosalie was a wonderful cook and thoroughly enjoyed entertaining in her home, taking food to others and sharing recipes.
She loved being outside, working in her gardens, and enjoying Onancock Creek. Having made her home with her first husband in Atlantic, she reared her children there, was a businesswoman and active member of that community and Atlantic Baptist Church, made many wonderful friends in the Atlantic and Wallops Island area, and loved going to Assateague Island, as the beach was one of her favorite places to be. She was an active member of Market Street United Methodist Church, Soroptimist Club of Accomack County, and Ye Accawmacke Garden Club, and adored the wonderful friends she made through those associations.
Rosalie is survived by her husband, William M. Daley, of Onancock; her daughter, Jenny Taylor Haga, of Lynchburg, Va.; her stepson, Christopher Daley (Jessica), of Onancock; her granddaughters, Linsey Thornes, of Virginia Beach, Delaney Taylor and Sydney Taylor, both of Snow Hill, Md., and Virginia Haga, of Lynchburg; great-grandson, Camden Wilkinson, of Snow Hill; sisters-in-law, Isabelle Drewer, of Newport News, Margaret Ann Miles, of Manassas, Va., Janet Cope (Dave), of McLean, Va., Kathleen Messmer (Richard), of Ft. Myers, Fla., Debbie Robbins (Jack), of Eastville, Andrea Scott (David), of Eastville, and Dr. Colleen Daley, of Onancock; brothers-in-law, Don Taylor (Lynn), of Salisbury, Md., Kevin Daley (Teri), of Onancock, and Stephen Daley, of Onancock; and many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
She was predeceased by her first husband, Tommy Taylor; son, Brian Taylor; brothers, Billy Drewer and George Drewer; sister, Irene Drewer; parents-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Eldred Taylor and Mr. and Mrs. William C. Daley; sister-in-law, Barbara Taylor; and brother-in-law, Jimmy Miles.
Rosalie’s funeral will be held at Market Street United Methodist Church in Onancock, Saturday, May 1, 2021, at 1 p.m., with the Rev. Heidi Bak officiating. Masks are required and social distancing will be enforced. An outdoor reception will follow at Wesley, the home of Rosalie and Bill Daley.
Donations may be made to Market Street United Methodist Church, 75 Market St., Onancock, VA 23417; Soroptimist Club of Accomack County c/o Betty Kerns, P.O. Box 89, Locustville, VA 23404; or Ye Accawmacke Garden Club c/o Elise Rew, 27200 Lang Farm Road, Accomac, VA 23301.
Memory tributes may be shared with the family at www.williamsfuneralhomes.com
