Steven Gates Rose

ROSE WINSTON-SALEM - Steven Gates Rose, born February 3, 2009, died Tuesday, June 30 2009, which pretty much says it all and at the same time says nothing. They called it heart failure, but that doesn' t seem right to those family members privileged to know him best. Steven actually had a lot of heart; it just came packaged in a faulty organ. In a life that spanned a too short five months, Steven managed to spread a remarkable amount of joy, wonder and life education. Yes, he caused a few lives some stressful times, but in retrospect, those pale alongside the good times. Steven' s curiosity was infectious. His presence in a room tended to raise the vitality level significantly. He showed the family what was important and how essential it was to live in the moment given the fragile and unpredictable nature of time in our little worlds. This is not to say that he always knew what he was doing and was being highly intentional about it. His giving may not have been fully informed but the receiving was a memorable experience, maybe THE memorable experience. His father, L. Keith Rose, said shortly after Steve was pronounced dead, that Steve' s spirit would return next time in a package more worthy of that spirit. That seems about right. Steve is survived by his twin sister, Elizabeth Kate; his mother, Susanna Gates; his brother, Luke; two sisters, Caroline and Hannah; his maternal grandparents, Susie and John Gates; his paternal grandparents, Mary Compton and Lewis M. Rose; and his great-grandfather, Thomas W. Stephenson, after whom he was named. His cousins, aunts and uncles are legion. Funeral Services will be held Tuesday, July 7, 2009 at 3:00 p.m. at Salem Funeral Home Chapel. The burial will be private. The family will receive friends on Tuesday one hour prior to the service at the Funeral Home. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.salemfh.com.