Rosalee Furniss Lorton 98, of Madisonville, KY
Rosalee Furniss Lorton, 98, of Madisonville, KY, passed from this earth on Sunday, July 5, 2026, at Baptist Health Deaconess in Madisonville, KY.
Rosalee (or Rosie as some called her) was born on August 29, 1927, in McDonough County, Illinois to the late Floyd and Myrtle Ritter Furniss. She graduated from Bushnell High School in 1945 and married Kenneth Lorton on October 22nd of that same year. He was just home from World War II and twelve years older than her. Some of her siblings said the marriage would never last, but the happy couple celebrated their 65th anniversary before his passing in 2010.
Rosalee had several jobs. She worked at Vaughn & Bushnell (the “Hammer Factory”), as well as a cook at Bushnell- Prairie City High School, and also helping her husband as a janitor at Bushnell-Prairie City Junior High School in Bushnell.
Being from a big family with eight siblings, Rosie learned how to cook and clean and loved the job of homemaker. Her youngest son once commented, “My Mom is so clean, she even washes the soap!”
Having raised four children, her greatest joy was her family. She loved getting together with family and loved cooking for them. Sunday evenings were often a time when the family and friends would gather around their big kitchen table for coffee and dessert, always with room “to pull up another chair”.
She was a lifetime member of the Women’s Auxiliary of the VFW and also a member of the Bushnell Methodist Church.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth L. Lorton; daughter, Linda Lorton Hensley; son, Larry L. Lorton; and all eight of her siblings and their spouses.
Her remaining family includes two sons, Lon (Pat) Lorton and Len Lorton, both of Madisonville; son-in-law, Carroll (Beverly) Hensley of Galesburg, IL; and daughterin- law, Linda Lorton of Signal Mountain, TN.
Rosie was blessed with seven grandchildren, Julie (Joe) Cox of Lacey Springs, AL, Kristin Westfall of Signal Mountain, TN, Shel (Greg) Lee of Russellville, KY, Chad (Jan) Hensley of Bushnell, IL, Doug (Stacey) Hensley of Nevada, IA, Erin Beliles of Benton, KY, and Andrew Lorton of Georgia. She also had thirteen great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren with two more on the way!
Rosie will be cremated and a graveside service will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, August 15, 2026, at Bushnell Cemetery in Bushnell, IL with a meal to follow for family and friends at the Bushnell Freight House Depot at 4 p.m in Bushnell, IL. Martin-Hollis Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Please sign the guestbook and leave condolences at www.martinhollisfh.com.
The family would like to thank the staff at Brighton Cornerstone for all the healthcare they provided, and especially for the hugs, kisses, and special attention.
