Rose Aileen Seitz

Rose Aileen Seitz, 86, of Lexington, Missouri, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, in Lexington, surrounded by the love of her family.

Born on September 17, 1939, in Carroll County, Missouri, to James and Mary Alice (Bell) Hayes, Rose grew up in the Lexington area and graduated from Lexington High School. On September 19, 1959, she married Fredrick Junior Seitz in Lexington. Together they built a life centered around faith, family, and community until his passing on July 31, 2014.

Rose spent much of her working life serving others, first as a telephone operator for Southwestern Bell, then as a nurse’s assistant at Shirkey Nursing Home, and later retiring from Dunbrooke Manufacturing after more than ten years of dedicated service. A faithful member of Lexington United Methodist Church, she was also a lifelong member of Women of the Moose, where she held many positions and cherished the friendships she formed. She had a gift for making people feel welcome, expressing her love through the meals she prepared, the quilts and crocheted items she made, and the time she devoted to those she cared about. Rose enjoyed playing cards and traveling, but her greatest joy was being present for her family, especially attending her grandchildren’s and great-grandchildren’s activities and proudly celebrating their accomplishments.

She is survived by three children, Cindy (Kirt) Howard of Lexington, Missouri, Joy (Thomas) Rockhold of Reynoldsburg, Ohio, and Steven (Galene) Seitz of Lexington, Missouri; 15 grandchildren; 37 great-grandchildren; and 4 great-great-grandchildren. She is also survived by a sister, Blanche Willis of Lexington, Missouri; two brothers, Dixon (Ettie) Hayes of Van Buren, Missouri and Hamilton “Dean” (Irene) Hayes of Sedalia, Missouri; as well as many nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends. In addition to her parents and husband, Rose was preceded in death by two children, Jeffrey Seitz and Stephanie Warren; a grandson, Dustin Silvain Frederick Seitz; two brothers, James Wayne Hayes and Eldon Ray Hayes; half-brothers William Daniel Hayes, Jason Lewis Hayes, and John Jr. Hayes; and a half-sister, Norma Irene.