Rosie May (Guyer) Baer, 74, of Waynesboro, PA, passed away peacefully on Thursday, March 20, 2025, at the York Hospital, surrounded by her loving family who serenaded her with one of her favorite songs, “I’m Henry the VIII, I Am” by Peter Noone of Herman’s Hermits, along with other beloved tunes, as she passed through this life and entered God’s loving embrace.
Born on January 18, 1951, in Waynesboro, she was one of nine children born to the late Lawrence Guyer, Sr. and Edna Grace (Brenneman) Guyer.
Rosie’s life was a beautiful tapestry woven with love, laughter, and adventure. On January 22, 1966, she married the love of her life, James E. “Jim” Baer. They made their home in Waynesboro where they lived for 59 wonderful years. Their partnership was one of devotion, not only to each other but to her family and the world around them. Rosie and Jim shared their generous spirits through missionary work, traveling to Honduras and sharing their love of Jesus with others near and far.
A woman of many talents and passions, Rosie brought warmth wherever she went. For 24 years, she waitressed at the Golden Corral in Waynesboro, where her bright smile and kind heart made her a local legend—some regulars wouldn’t even step inside unless Rosie was there to greet them. Her career also included time at Waynesboro Laundry, The Waynesboro Knitting Co., and various workplaces in Greencastle, PA, where her hard work and cheerful spirit left a lasting mark. She lastly co-managed Land-A-Lunch with her daughter, while working alongside her husband and each of her four grandchildren.
Rosie (affectionately known as Rosebud) was a beautiful soul, her faith was a cornerstone of her life, and most recently she was a proud member of Jacob’s Church. In early years, she was a Sunday School Teacher and Vacation Bible School Director, as well as the Women’s Missionary Association President. She could be frequently found making slippery pot pie, soups, or apple dumplings. She found joy in the simple pleasures—crocheting intricate creations, scouring antique shops for treasures, and adding to her beloved collection of vintage peanut butter glasses. Rosie was no stranger to thrills either. A passionate roller coaster enthusiast and member of the American Coaster Enthusiasts, riding over 450 coasters, she embraced life’s wild rides with the same gusto she brought to everything else. Another one of Rosie’s passions was her love of the Philadelphia Phillies, especially Michael Jack Schmidt, and she shared her love of the Philadelphia Eagles with her great-grandson Hoyt.
Travel was one of Rosie’s great loves, whether it was visiting her son in Alabama, savoring banana royale crepes at the Bayside Skillet in Ocean City or embarking on beach trips with her family. She and Jim even brought holiday magic to life, delighting children as Mrs. Claus alongside her husband’s Santa. Through it all, Rosie’s zest for life and her deep love for her family shone brightly.
Rosie leaves behind a legacy of love, resilience, and joy. She will be deeply missed by her husband, Jim, her family, and the countless lives she touched with her infectious laughter and boundless kindness. If you were fortunate enough to know Rosie, you know how much love she had for everyone. A more beautiful person cannot be found. As her family sang her out of this world, they know she’s now riding the ultimate roller coaster in the sky, a vintage peanut butter glass in hand, forever their Rosie.
In addition to her husband, Rosie is survived by three children: Rosie M. Garnand and her husband, Bruce of Waynesboro, Jere A. Alleman and her husband, Mark of Chambersburg and James W. Baer and his wife, Andrea of Union Grove, AL; four grandchildren: Jennifer Drury and her husband, Richard, Matthew Alleman, Nickolas Alleman, and Alexandra Garnand; one great-grandson, Hoyt Drury; several beloved fur-grandbabies, a brother, Paul Guyer and his wife, Cheri of Albuquerque, NM, and many nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her siblings: Lawrence Guyer, Robert Guyer, Charles Guyer, Ronald Guyer, Roy Guyer, Viola Brown, Ruth Mellema and Christine Shults.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Jacob’s Church, 495 Harbaugh Valley Rd. Fairfield, PA 17320, in Rosie’s memory, honoring her spirit of giving.
A memorial service with a celebration of her life, love, and friendship will be held on Saturday March 29, 2025 from 4:00-7:00 P.M. at Jacob’s Church Pavilion, 495 Harbaugh Valley Road, Fairfield, PA with the memorial service occurring 4:00-5:00 P.M. and a social gathering of friends 5:00-7:00 P.M.
Grove-Bowersox Funeral Home, Waynesboro, is handling her arrangements.
