Roselle Checketts

Roselle McKay Checketts, 66, passed away peacefully on November 17, 2015 in Preston, Idaho. Roselle was born on July 22, 1949 to Melvin William and Emmeline Chatterton McKay, the sixth of eight children. She grew up in Weston, Idaho on the McKay family farm. Roselle attended Ricks College, and then transferred to Utah State where she graduated with a degree in elementary education. She taught elementary school in Blackfoot, Idaho, and held special memories throughout her life of the time she spent teaching and the friends she made while living there. Roselle met Darrel Checketts on a blind date, and they were married in the Logan LDS Temple on November 26, 1975.

From a young age, Roselle’s greatest ambition in life was to be a mother. After many heartbreaking years of trying to have children, Darrel and Roselle’s dreams came true when they adopted their three children: Katie, Jake, and Christy. Roselle thrived as a mother, and spent many hours rocking her babies, singing them songs, and reading to them.  Nothing gave her greater joy than making apple juice ba-bas, throwing ninja turtle birthday parties, and changing the diapers she’d been waiting her entire life to change.

Roselle opened Rosie’s Preschool and taught her youngest daughter, Christy, in her inaugural jump back into teaching. She loved and taught many children over the years, and the preschool’s Christmas and Graduation programs are some of the family’s fondest memories with Roselle. She served faithfully in many callings in The Church, but she especially enjoyed serving in the Primary. Her dedication to her children, as well as the many children in both the church and the community, will forever be her greatest legacy.

The last several years as her health began to fail, Roselle could always be seen crocheting hot pads, making quilts, and talking to her siblings on the phone. Her smile and laughter were infectious, and she remained a fighter to the very end. Roselle loved her three grandchildren to pieces, and she showed the latest pictures of them to anyone within her iPad’s reach. She was looking forward to welcoming her second grandson in December.

She is survived by her husband, Darrel; children, Katie McDermott; Jake (April) Checketts, and Christy (Morgan) Hubbard; and 3 grandchildren. She is also survived by her siblings, Joye (Hansen), Lila (Merlin) Waite, Norlis (Thelma) McKay, Margie (Stewart) Jacobson, and Shirl (Maureen) McKay. She is preceded in death by her parents, Melvin (Emmeline) McKay and siblings Merlin (Opal) McKay, Delwyn Hansen, and Clynn McKay.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, November 21, 2015 at 12:00 noon in the Preston North Stake Center, 310 North State Street in Preston. A viewing will be held Friday from 6-8 p.m. at Webb Funeral Home, 1005 South 800 East in Preston and Saturday from 10:30-11:30 a.m. at the stake center. Interment will be in the Weston Cemetery. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.webbmortuary.com

The family wishes to express their deep appreciation for the many people who visited, helped care for her, and assisted the family the past several years as her health was failing. They would especially like to thank Roselle’s older sister Joye Hansen, Jim Robinson, the Franklin County Medical Center team, and Dr. Heninger and the Wound Care Team at the Cache Valley Specialty Hospital.