Rose Ann McAtee Smith

Rose Ann McAtee Smith, 83, died on March 4, 2022, in Amarillo, Texas.
A memorial service will be held

The Memorial service will take place at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Amarillo on Saturday, May 21st at 11:00 AM.

Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2800 Paramount Blvd.
Rose Ann was born on June 4, 1938, in Santa Fe, New Mexico to William Edward McAtee and Rose Koury McAtee. She grew up in Albuqu

Rose Ann McAtee Smith
Rose Ann McAtee Smith

erque, New Mexico. Except for a brief period of time, living in Dallas and Richardson Texas, she lived in Hereford from the late1950s to 1993.
Rose Ann married William Burnum Smith in 1968 in Hereford Texas. They were happily married for 53 years. Together they raised Rose Ann’s three sons by a former marriage.
Rose Ann was a member of St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Hereford, where she served as Senior Warden and on the various local church and diocesan committees. She was ordained to the Sacred Order of Deacons in 1988. After ordination, she served on the Commissions on Ministry and Missions, and the Executive Council of the Diocese of Northwest Texas. Her ministry also included being the first AIDS Taskforce Chair for the Diocese.
Rose Ann practiced nursing and was one of the first Family Nurse Practitioners in the Amarillo Area. Her career started as an LVN. She continued on and received her RN after graduating from Northwest Texas Hospital School of Nursing in the first LVN to RN program. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from West Texas State University (Now West Texas A & M), and a Master’s degree in Family Nursing from West Texas A & M University. In 1979, Rose Ann received Hospice training in the United Kingdom. This training included lectures from Dame Cecily Saunders and other early providers of the modern-day hospice. She did fieldwork in the Midlands of Great Britain as well as St. Christopher’s Hospice in Sydenham, a suburb of London. Rose Ann’s nursing practice included caring for the medically underserved, teaching all levels of nursing practice, and even starting a migrant health clinic in Hereford through South Plains Health Providers (now Regence Health Network). Moving to Amarillo in 1993, she practiced as clinic director and healthcare provider for the Homeless at Tyler Street Resource Center (now Guyon Saunders Resource Center). Before her retirement, her hospice education led her to a part-time position with Hospice Care of the Southwest.
Rose Ann received a number of awards during her 45 years of nursing practice. She received the Outstanding LVN Student Award in the LVN to RN program at Northwest Texas Hospital in 1972. Other awards included the President’s Award in 1998 and the Mentors award in 2004 from the Delta Delta Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau, Nursing’s National Honor Society. She was awarded Nurse Practitioner of the Year from the Panhandle Nurse Practitioner Association in 2003 and 2008. She was a charter member of the Texas Nurse Practitioner Association in 1989. Rose Ann was active as a community volunteer and served several civic boards and committees. They included United Way of Hereford, Panhandle AIDS Support Organization, and Regence Health Network. In 2001 she was elected Vice-Chairperson of the Homeless Coalition and in 2003, served as Chairperson of the Homeless Coalition. Rose Ann was also a charter member of the Hereford Chamber singers, traveling with the choir to Romania in 1979 and the World’s Fair in Australia in 1988. In 2019, she was awarded the designation of one of the 25 Panhandle Great Nurses. Before her illness and death, Rose Ann was actively involved with the Randall County Master Gardeners and the Amarillo Parkinson Support Group, as well as facilitating a Parkinson Caregiver group.
She was preceded in death by her parents, a beloved son, Jon Sidney Fraser, and a beloved sister, Evelyn Irene McAtee Castellano. She is survived by her spouse, two sons, William Thomas Fraser, and Michael Burns Fraser, as well as five grandchildren, four great-grandchildren

. A brother, James Edward McAtee of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and a sister, Kathleen Eby, of Thrall, Texas, and numerous other relatives.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to a favorite charity.

19 Replies to “Rose Ann McAtee Smith”

  1. Rose Ann, was my true Hero.
    It was an honor to have known and worked with her at the old Deaf Smith General Hospital.
    She was our first nursing instructor for the LV nursing class in the later 70’s.
    She will be remembered as great role model of intelligence, compassion, kindness, and grace (Angel of Mercy).
    Rosa Ann touched so many lives with her words of wisdom and encouragement.
    Our deepest condolences to the family during this painful journey. 🙏🙏🙏.

  2. Rose Ann and I became friends through Randall County Master Gardeners. Our frequent lunches were special events as she shared her views of compassion and care for the underserved members of Panhandle residents. My deepest condolences to her beloved Bill and all her family.

  3. Our deepest sympathy to all of Rose Ann’s family. We always enjoyed visiting with her about gardening. She loved sharing her garden and we never failed to learn one or more of her gardening secrets. May God bless you during this most difficult time.

  4. I always enjoyed visiting with Rose Ann and looked forward to seeing her and Bill. She always inspired to do my best work and be my best self. She continued to be insightful and intelligent even as her health declined. I will miss you, Rose Ann. Thank you for always spending time with me.

  5. Rose Ann was a role model of intelligence, compassion, kindness and grace. She changed the lives of many for the better. A great mentor for so many of us through her career and lifelong commitment to helping others Blessings and comfort to all.

  6. Rose Ann was an inspiration to all who knew her. She touched so many lives in such good ways. Deepest sympathy to her family.

  7. Rose Ann was a dear friend and always a patient advocate especially for the underserved. She was a great role model for those entering into the nursing field especially those entering the nurse practitioner role. She will be missed very much

  8. Rose Ann was a wonderful person: Caring, compassionate, and loving. How fortunate I am to have known her. The last time I saw her was when she was honored as a Texas Panhandle Great 25 Nurses in 2019. I had the opportunity to work with her over the last 35 years in the Texas Panhandle.

  9. Rose Ann was such a wonderful person and a real pleasure to be around. Her compassion for humanity, and her stalwart faith helped propel her to the many positions she had in the community. I served with her on numerous boards and she was always present!!! She brought happiness to all and was always smiling. She was truly a pioneer in her field.

  10. Such a dear, remarkable woman. She touched so many lives and made such a mark. I always loved Rose Ann. Peace, Love and Prayers for all those special loved ones.

  11. Rose Ann’s nursing career focusing on those in greatest need is a reflection of her ministry as a deacon. She was a delight and inspiration.

  12. I had the privilege of working with Rose Ann at Hospice Care of the Southwest. She was kind, compassionate, and had a wealth of knowledge. She will be greatly missed.

  13. My condolences to Bill and all the family. I have fond memories of Rose Ann and our time together in the Hereford Chamber Singers, and our trips to Romania and Australia. She was a beautiful soul and will not be forgotten.

  14. Blessings and condolences to Bill and the family! Rose Ann and I became friends at St.Thomas, and she served as a spiritual mentor for me. We sang in Hereford Chamber Singers the two years I taught in Hereford. It was wonderful to reconnect on Facebook. May she Rest In Peace and rise in glory!

  15. What wonderful lady she was. I have never meant such a grand lady. Her love for life,people her family ran deep. A strong woman in her faith. She knew when the Lord was ready for her, she would go for she be ready to. God bless you dear lady and dear friend. Soar high among the clouds. Spread your wings for you are home now.⚘⚘💖

  16. Having worked with her from her LVN days through hercareer as a nurse practitioner, I had much respect and admiration for her as a person, Christian woman and as a nurse. She was loved by many and will be greatly missed.

  17. I loved Rose Ann! She was a dedicated member of the Hereford Chamber Singers and provided a beautiful alto voice to the chorus! She always had a positive attitude and was a ray of sunshine to the group! She was a blessing to many!

  18. A lady of such compassion and varied talents ! She will leave many great memories for those of us who counted her a friend

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