Marirose Stiver: Who is the sweetest person in Loveland?

In the feature photo above is Marirose Stiver collecting money under Loveland, Ohio’s town clock for the people of Loveland, Colorado during the Front Range flood in October of 2013. Read the story.

Marirose Stiver, the sweetest person in Loveland – that loved Loveland and its people more than anyone else.

“Loveland’s rose has passed to a better place.”

– Marilynn Kellogg

by David Miller

For a decade I toyed with the idea of doing a video series in search of the sweetest person in LOVE-land. I tried to recruit several people to help over the last several years. Oh, how I now regret that I didn’t just go it alone. The idea was to do a video interview with a successive, series of people, asking the question,  “Who is the sweetest person in Loveland?”

I was going to ask the first person the question and have them tell me about the person. Then, I was going to go to that sweet person and repeat the question. I envisioned maybe twenty interviews.

[quote_left]I knew who I would approach first, and know that in the end, the story would come full circle, many times over – back to Marirose Stiver.[/quote_left]I knew who I would approach first, and know that in the end, the story would come full-circle, many times over – back to Marirose Stiver. I knew that if the series would continue, I would have to be prepared to ask a follow-up question, “OK, everyone tells me it’s Marirose, so who is the second-sweetest person in Loveland.”

I could also have asked folks this question: “Who do you know that loves Loveland more than any other person?” That answer would also have gone full-circle back to Marirose Stiver. Or, “Who most cared about Loveland and its people?” Again – full circle.

Now, on the occasion of her passing, I certaiinly have the regret of never starting, because if I had, I would now have hundreds of Loveland folks on camera paying tribute to Marirose, the sweetest person in Loveland that loved Loveland more than any other person, who most cared about Loveland and its people.

As you will read in the comments gleamed from Facebook below, Marirose had that unique quality to make hundreds of individuals feel like they were cherished and individually loved. As Jim Allen said on Facebook, “Marirose made everyone think they were the most special person on earth.”

She taught me personally how to say to people, quite out of the blue, “I love you.”

[quote_box_right]Cindy Lannom Shipman said, “How extremely fortunate was I to reconnect with my 1st grade teacher on Facebook. She never failed to tell her former students how much she loved them each time she saw them or spoke with them.”[/quote_box_right]

However, I could never quite figure her out. “How could I, be so special in the eyes and heart of Marirose?” Also, she made me very nervous, because I never wanted to say something during our conversations that might disappoint her. Marirose loves, ME?

Marirose could be quite blunt in conversations. Very blunt in her affection for people and events, but also quite blunt if she didn’t feel people or events weren’t quite the right thing for a town with “Love” for a first name.

Stiver was selected to be a Loveland Valentine Lady in 2001.

Now that she has passed through, it is left to us to never forget. Never forget, each and every day to be more like, as Mary Jo Taber described Marirose on Facebook, “A community mom.”

Marirose Stiver (nee Murray) of Loveland. Loving mother of Scott (Tammy) Stiver. Cherished grandmother of Eliza Rose Stiver. Sister of the late Jeanette Gill. Beloved friend to many. Passed away June 11, 2016 at the age of 77.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of Cincinnati.

DATE AND TIME OF SERVICE TO BE ANNOUNCED. CHECK HERE, ON MONDAY.

Posts on Facebook from around the country as people learned of the passing of Marirose Stiver

Nancy Hartmann Downing – To one of the most beautiful women I have been privileged to photograph. You will be truly missed Marirose Stiver.

Lisa Kopittke – I got some sad news this morning. My first grade teacher Marirose Stiverpassed away this morning. She was one of my favorite teachers and one of the sweetest women I know. We lived in the same neighborhood for many years and even went to the same church. We reconnected on face book and after my dad died she aways sent me sweet messages. I will miss her.. She will be missed my so many. Praying for her family..

Blake Castetter – The world lost a great person today. So many adjectives come to mind when thinking of Marirose Stiver. But my list is only a short one compared to the combined list that could be created by everyone she has touched. She was one of the kindest, most genuine people I have ever met in my life, intentionally making everyone she knew and cared about feel as though they were the most special human being on earth. Few people make the impact she made, from teaching to her role as Loveland’s Valentines Day Lady, to just being a true friend. The selfish side of me is sad for so many reasons, but she went peacefully with Scott by her side and is no longer in pain. She will be truly missed by many. RIP

Jill Allen – A dear dear friend got her wings today. The selfish me is so very saddened by the news. The loving me is so so happy that Marirose Stiver has claimed her place in heavens choir (boy what a beautiful voice)! Stopped to say a quick “love you” a week ago today. That quick visit turned into 1 1/2 hours of laughter and happy memories with my Mom and our dear friend. So thankful for that time. Marirose made everyone think they were the most special person on earth. Don’t know if she ever believed how special she was to all of us.

Cindy Lannom Shipman – How extremely fortunate was I to reconnect with my 1st grade teacher on Facebook? I was in one of her very first classes in my hometown of Loveland, OH. And she made all of the difference in my life in that one school year with her! I honestly believe that I would not have been the student that I became if I had not had ‘Miss Murray’ (later Mrs. Stiver) for 1st grade. It was so awesome to reconnect with her as an adult and share our lives with each other. She never failed to tell her former students how much she loved them each time she saw them or spoke with them. She passed away this morning and there will be a big hole left in so many hearts but heaven most definitely is singing with joy today at her arrival.

Janis Fogle – Please lift all those touched by the life and the passing , of my valentine sister, Marirose Stiver , up in prayer, as we learn to live with out her charm, love and friendship

 

Don Shrout – I took this picture in 1976.

Jan R – Here she is, the lady that stole my heart. She took part of it with her this morning, but that’s ok, because she left part of hers with me.

She was my cheerleader. She cared about everyone else.

The most selfless person I have ever known. She couldn’t help praising everyone else, and being frustrated when other people weren’t praising and seeing the best side of life.

She is and will always be an inspiration to me. She made me laugh. She made me see how ridiculous life could be. She made me proud. She encouraged me. I don’t know what life will be like without her. I’m not ready to find out.

She tried to prepare all of us for her leaving. She continued to give us inspiration in her FB postings. She blessed each one of us, and our entire community. Her son Scott is wonderful. He would take her for rides around Loveland, and make her days and quality of life the best he possibly could. He and Tammy and Eliza Rose were the Joy of Marirose’s life.

The most ironic of all, was in the back of my mind, I kept thinking that my friend Ruth and Marirose would be great friends, and that Ruth would be there waiting for her, Ruth passed away 9 years ago today. Marirose believed in “Godwinks” and so do I. I am sure Ruth is playing the piano, and Marirose is singing… Go sing and have fun, and be pain free… and hug my Dad too please.I will miss you so much Marirose Stiver, the Valentine Lady I love so much!

Marilynn Kellogg – Loveland’s rose has passed to a better place. Bless all who got to know her.

Beth Cox – Few comparable spirits have I ever met.

Martha Hoctor‎ – This news weighs heavily on my heart. As grieved as Loveland is, I know we are all relieved that your are no longer in pain.

Vona Bales – All my daughters had her as their first grade teacher — she got them off to an awesome start — she inspired us all.

Karol Brown Warden – She would always come visit my mom and sing to her.

Elaine Weyand – She was a loyal friend to everyone and always thoughtful of others

Mary Jo Taber – She was like a community “mom”.

Jan Pirtle – I absolutely agree about feeling special. Every single time I would see her the love, warmth and sincerity of her beautiful spirit just enveloped you and lifted you up. She is a priceless gift to all of us. Her impact on us will keep her touching more and more people through us.

Mary Jo Horstmeyer Shrout – Look at the sparkle in her eyes. Beautiful! She made us all feel like we were the best favorite student she ever taught. She had a gift for making everyone feel special. I will miss her FB comments.

Phyllis Payne Grothaus – One thing I’ll miss about her is no matter how awful you might of looked when you ran into her she always said how beautiful you are. She was truly beautiful

Ryan Minton – She was my 1st grade teacher, probably the nicest person I have ever met. The world lost a wonderful human being

Sandy Simpson – She was one of the sweetest ladies i’ve ever known. I never walked away from a conversation with her without a smile on my face.

Michele Rodier – The selfish part of me is so sad! I will miss the uplifting things she sent me on fb messenger. I will miss how she made me feel. She did make everyone feel that they were the most special person on Earth. She had a gift. She was a gift.

Denise McVey O’Mara – Selfishly wish she could be around forever as she was a truly beautiful person all the way through. Every time I saw her, I felt the love

Thelma Ledford – I knew her as a fellow student at Blanchester High School. I’m not surprised that she was a very caring 1st grade teacher. Although considering her beautiful singing voice, we expected here to follow a music career. She played Anna in the King & I in our High Schoo musical production in 1957.

Elaine Weyand – It will be so hard to live without her. I have never known anyone so caring of others as Marirose

Linda Gramke Shrout – Such sad news! She was one of the sweetest, kind women I’ve ever known.

Evelyn Price Osborne – She was one of the sweetest people I have ever known. It is truly a sad day for Loveland.

AJ Lucius – Marirose saw the best in everyone and loved everybody, if the world was more like Marirose this world would be a better place❤️

Lisa Kopittke – I am so sorry to here this! She was my first grade teacher.. She is one of the sweetest women I know.

Linda Sporing-Lay – Oh no. What a sweet, kind , beautiful person.

Cam Campbell Jones – Oh, so sad, she was so sweet, she rode with us once in the 4th of July parade. In our miniature firetruck, it was pouring rain. She was so funny, kept us laughing the whole time.

Angi Gardner – I pray that in her honor we strive to treat others the way she treated us.

Lynne McManus Lee – Some people come into your life and stay in your heart.

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This LOVELAND MAGAZINE TV video is Marirose Stiver singing, “I’d love to live in Loveland” at the Loveland Kroger store on January 15, 2015. The occasion was the annual announcement of the new Loveland Valentine Lady and un-veiling of the Valentine Card.

Stiver herself, was selected to be a Valentine Lady in 2001.