Rose Claire Garliss, founder and owner of a Towson employment agency, died Saturday of complications from a stroke at Brightwood Retirement Community in Brooklandville. The former Stoneleigh resident was 80.

Mrs. Garliss founded Garliss and Associates in the mid-1970s, after working earlier as chief bowling instructor at Johnny Unitas' Colt Lanes in Timonium, and was manager of the Dot Girls' Temporary Agency and Olston's, also Towson employment businesses. She retired in 1985.

Born Rose Claire Banister in Baltimore and raised in Lauraville, she attended Notre Dame Preparatory School and the Bard Avon School, a modeling academy.

She worked as a model for the Rita Swann Agency and appeared in advertisements for the Hutzler's and Schleisner's stores. She also had a cameo role in the 1940 motion picture Maryland.

Her husband of 49 years, Joseph Allen Garliss, a liquor salesman and distributor, died in 1992.

A Mass of Christian burial will be offered at 11 a.m. today at St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church, 103 Church Lane, Cockeysville, where she was a member.

She is survived by her four sons, Joseph Allen Garliss of Ocean City, Todd Banister Garliss of Phoenix, Gregory Scott Garliss of New Freedom, Pa., and Christopher Martin Garliss of Hunt Valley; a daughter, Rose Claire "Tia" Opfer of Madonna; 12 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.