Born Rose Perica in Globe, Arizona, she spent her lifetime working for the state government, eventually appointed Secretary of State by Governor Wesley Bolin in 1977, and retaining that post in 1978, 1982, and 1986.
She administered the recall election of Governor Evan Mecham, and then took over the governorship in 1987 when Mecham was impeached, stabilising the government after the turblance of the period.
She did not run for reelection in 1991.
She married T.R. "Lefty" Mofford, founder of the Phoenix Police Department, in 1957.