Rose May Dickeson

Rose May Dickeson, age 93, of Tucson, Arizona, passed away on May 16, 2025. She was born on January 1, 1932, in Kansas City, Missouri, to John and Clydena Najolia.

Rose was an avid photographer and artist. Early in her career she worked at Warner Untersee Studios in Kansas City as a photographer. In 1964, Rose began working at the Trans World Airlines Training Center in Kansas City as a graphic artist (creating diagrams for pilot and flight attendant training manuals) and as a photographer. She was chosen to photo-document the 1987 USA visit of Pope John Paul. Rose worked in the TWA art department for almost 25 years until her retirement in 1988.

Rose was fond of the Western United States and lived in Sierra Vista, Arizona, and San Diego, California, prior to moving to Tucson. She enjoyed traveling, visiting Hawaii, Germany, Spain, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia. Her fondest avocation was flying small aircraft. Rose obtained her pilot’s license in the 1970s. Initially, she co-owned a small airplane with a friend, but soon purchased her own Cessna 150. Rose enhanced her flight credentials by obtaining an instrument rating, multi-engine rating, and commercial pilot license. One of her great loves was taking friends and family on sightseeing plane rides. She continued flying to age 86.

Rose was preceded in death by her parents, and brothers-in-law Don Drummond and Lamar Byrd. She is survived by her sisters, Jo Ann Drummond and Norma Byrd, brother-in-law Robert Dickeson (Ludie), sons Bil Dickeson (Wendy), Kent Dickeson (Patricia), and Jeff Dickeson, grandchildren Matthew Dickeson and Laura Dickeson, niece Beryl Ann Byrd, and nephews Bruce Drummond and Brian Drummond, step-grandchildren Michael Parsley (Samira) and Melissa Bearden (Blake), and three step-great-grandchildren, Jibreel Parsley, Yaseen Parsley, and Lucian Bearden.

We sadly announce the most recent passing of Rose’s nephew, Mark Byrd. We grieve with Alyssa, as Alyssa grieves with us.

In lieu of flowers, plants, sympathy cards, or  whatever, the family requests donations be made in Rose’s name to the Parkinson’s Foundation (www.parkinson.org).