Rosemary Finney, 69, died Sunday night, Oct. 28, 2001, at Hemet Valley Health Care, of complications from diabetes.

She was born June 8, 1932, in El Monte and lived in Idyllwild for 41 years.

Ms. Finney was the clerk in the U.S. Forest Service office in Idyllwild from 1959 to 1963. That job brought her to Idyllwild with her son, Steve.

She subsequently worked as bookkeeper and payroll clerk for H.K. Smith Excavating and Contracting from 1963 to just prior to her death.

She also was Idyllwild Fire Department’s secretary and bookkeeper for 17 years. At one time, Ms. Finney did bookkeeping and payroll for other businesses on the mountain such as Jan’s Red Kettle, Forest Realty and The Ponderosa, as well as many others.

She is a past president of the Soroptimist International of Idyllwild and was precinct captain for the board of elections for 20 years.

Ms. Finney was preceded in death by her sister, Carol. She is survived by her son, Steve, and daughter-in-law, Chris, of Idyllwild; a sister, Betty, of Lancaster; and nieces and nephews.

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