Rosemary Thornton Brinegar

1925 - 2017

BRINEGAR, Rosemary Thornton Rosemary Thornton Brinegar died May 4, 2017 at home with her children by her side. She was born February 28, 1925 to former Mayor R. L. Thornton, Sr. and Mary Metta Stiles. She attended Hockaday School and Randolph Macon Woman's College and was a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. On January 26, 1946, she married Ralph Franklin Brinegar. Rosemary was devoted to her husband Ralph, to whom she was married for 71 years, as well as to her four children with whom she was very close. They shared a lifetime of love, laughter and good fun with family and friends. The consummate lady and role model for her family, Rosemary never said an unkind word about others. She was beloved by countless friends as well as her adoring family, and she remembered each of them regularly in thought and deed. She was appreciative of every kindness extended to her. Her large community of friends, many of whom she had known all her life, included those in Lakewood where she and her husband raised their children, and at their Terrace House high-rise apartment where they lived the remainder of their lives. Rosemary was a long-time member and former church circle leader of the Highland Park United Methodist Church. She was a member of the Dallas Woman's Club, the Marianne Scruggs Garden Club, the Junior League of Dallas, the James Campbell Chapter of the DAR and the Founder's Garden Club. She served as president of the Lyceum Club, the Matheon Club and the Mary K. Craig Class. She also cherished her past memberships in the Avalon Sewing Club, her bridge club and supper club. In addition to her husband Ralph Brinegar, who passed away just six weeks earlier, she is preceded in death by her parents, her sisters Katherine Thornton Holt and Mary Ann Thornton and brother R. L. Thornton, Jr. She is survived by her four children: Mary Brinegar, Carol Hoey and husband Vin of Dallas, Nan Matson and husband Mark of Fort Worth, and Frank Brinegar and wife Christina of Coppell. Grandchildren are: Robert Lowery of Dallas, Leigh Lowery and Anne Lowery of Los Angeles, Becky Escott and husband Taylor, Mary Katherine (M K) Scherer and husband Charlie of Fort Worth, and Will Matson of London, England, Alexandra (Ali) Brinegar, Chase Brinegar, Rosemary Brinegar and Camille Brinegar of Coppell, Elizabeth Barham and husband Mike of San Antonio and Melanie Hoey of Austin. Great-grand-children are: Luke and Meredith Lowery, Lainey and Brandt Escott and Henry Scherer. Rosemary is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews including R. L. Thornton, III, Jean Marie Wesson and Cindi Swanson of Dallas, all of whom she loved dearly. The family wishes to extend its sincere appreciation to her beloved personal physician, Jeffrey Phillips, M.D., her devoted caregivers Sherry Irwin and Shella Marasigan and the Terrace House management and staff, who met her every need. Rosemary willed her body to UT Southwestern Medical School for research to help others, as did her husband Ralph. There will be a memorial service held on Saturday, May 13, 2017, 11:00 AM at Highland Park United Methodist Church, 3300 Mockingbird Lane. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to the Dallas Arboretum, 8617 Garland Road, Dallas 75218, the Congregational Care Ministry of Highland Park United Methodist Church, 3300 Mockingbird Lane, Dallas, 75205, or the charity of your choice.