Editor’s note: During focus group discussions we held earlier this year, to gather feedback for our upcoming redesign of the newspaper, we heard from some Plaindealer readers that they wanted to see more “regular people” in the newspaper. They want to know more about who else lives here in the community.

So, in response, we’re starting an occasional feature called “meet your neighbor.” If you would like to be featured or you know a Ouray County resident who would make a good candidate, please email erin@ouraynews.com.

This interview has been lightly edited for clarity and length.

Name: Rob Rose

Age: 61 years old

What is your profession?

I am a newly ordained priest in the Episcopal Church and I have just been hired by St. John’s Episcopal Church as their priest in charge.

I have been living in Ouray County for about 17 years; I have a store in Ridgway called Timber Creek Western Shop and before that, had, actually still have, a store in Washington state that’s a Christmas shop (The Christmas Shop at Timber Creek in Redmond). We’re in the process of trying to sell it so we can be year-round in Colorado.

How did you end up here 17 years ago?

Gosh, about 27 years ago I was living part-time near Basalt and drove over here just on a whim to check out the area and immediately knew this was home. I felt called, that this was the place I wanted to be. It took a while to make that work – in the interim I met my husband.

His name is Gerry Ketchum, and then finally he and I kind of made this work. So we opened the store about 17 years ago in Ridgway and we have a little bit of land up on the top of Horsefly Mesa, which is where our cabin is. We try to spend as much downtime as we can there.

What made you decide to change career paths and be involved in the church?

I think I was called to ministry since I was really in my teenage years, certainly, and just avoided it. I started my business and I was a park ranger at Mt. Rainier National Park for a while. I have a love for nature and the environment so that was feeding that part of my soul. At this age it was just, like, I’ve gotta do this. God was calling me and I’ve gotta follow that call, so I got my masters of divinity out of Bexley Seabury Seminary out of Chicago and graduated with that last March. And, yeah, it’s late in life to start with this career, but it’s something I feel strongly about and called to. I’m thrilled to be able to stay in the San Juan Mountains here and to serve at St. John’s.

What do you love most about living here?

Certainly the first draw was the mountains, the beauty, and that had always connected to me with my relationship with God. You know, it’s a wonderful community of people who care for each other and take care of each other. That’s what the community means to me.

What’s one thing people would be surprised to know about you?

Some people may be surprised to know that I’m a gay, married man and a priest, some people might be surprised that I have this background being a park ranger and loving the national parks as much as I do.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I like to ski, I like to fly fish, hike, those are kind of hobbies of mine, but sometimes it’s just hanging with my dogs up at the cabin and snowshoeing with my husband and the dogs.

Is there anything else you wish the Ouray County community would know about you?

I think just that I am committed to the gospel of Jesus Christ, I am committed to St. John’s Church being a place where people can see the gospel alive, that it’s alive in folks lives that we strive to live as Jesus Christ wants us to live, loving all of our neighbors.