Roiselle Grim's Obituary
Roiselle was born on May 1,1933 to Argie Ann Lee Green and Roy Bedford Green in Huntown, Arkansas. She and her sister were raised on their family farm, Green Acres, in Ozark, Arkansas. She graduated from Ozark High School shortly after her 16th birthday and The College of the Ozarks (now University) with a degree in music, majoring in piano. She met her future husband, James R. Grim, while they were students at The C of O. She was an expert musician, specializing in organ, piano and voice, primarily focusing on music as her ministry. Her first job was teaching music in Mulberry, AR. Following her marriage to Jim, Roiselle was either the church organist or a member of the church choir in any location where the family lived. Once, Jim asked Roiselle to sit with him in church rather than participate as a musician. That lasted exactly one day. She also taught piano and played piano in the band for community plays.
Roiselle and Jim were married in 1954 and moved 11 times during their marriage, as Jim pursued his profession as an electrical engineer for AT&T/Western Electric/Bell Laboratories. They lived in Memphis, TN, while Jim completed his Marine enlistment and where Elise joined the family. Roiselle was the church organist at the Naval Air Station. They moved to Fayetteville, AR, where Roiselle was the organist at the First Christian Church and worked at the University of Arkansas Library. From there, they moved to El Paso, TX, where Lynne was born. The family’s next location was Kwajalein, Marshall Islands, followed by a winter move to Northern NJ, then a return to Kwajalein, where Roiselle was the organist at Kwajalein Island Memorial Chapel and then back to NJ. Their next move was to Naperville, IL and then to Martinsville, NJ. Following Jim’s diagnosis of ALS, Jim and Roiselle moved to Richardson, TX. After Jim’s retirement, they moved to Rogers, AR where Roiselle was the organist for Peace Lutheran Church in Rogers then First United Methodist Church in Bella Vista. Roiselle chose to move to Maui, HI to live with Lynne, following her diagnosis of Alzheimer’s and dementia. During her last two years, Roiselle lived at Hale Makua Kahului nursing home where she received expert and compassionate care. In her final days, Roiselle and Elise were supported by Hospice Maui.
Roiselle was predeceased by her parents, her husband, James (Jim) and her daughter Lynne Marie Miller. She is survived by her daughter, Elise Burt (David), grandson Chris (Hannah Jones), great grandchildren James and Eleanor Burt, her sister, Katala Williams, and numerous nieces and nephews.
A celebration of her life will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Hale Makua Health Services, Hospice Maui, The Broyles Foundation, or Maui Strong Fund - The Hawaii Community Foundation, The Maui Food Bank or The Maui Humane Society to support the people and animals impacted by the devastating fires on Maui
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