Dorothy Mae Rowan

Dorothy Mae Rowan died April 16, 2012, in Austin, Texas, at age 93. She was born November 3, 1918, in Niobrara, Nebraska, to Ethel Delilah Wright and Melvin Orlando Hagerman and grew up at the train depot where the family lived during the years her father was Niobrara station agent. Dorothy was vice-president of the Niobrara High School class of 1936. She received a diploma from Van Sant Business School in Omaha and in 1940 accepted a legal secretary position with the U.S. Department of Labor in Washington, D.C. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor the Labor Department decentralized its Washington, D.C. offices and Dorothy volunteered to work in New York City for a year. She married James Gerard Michael Rowan on July 19, 1947, in Washington, D.C. Over the next three decades they moved with their family to Colorado, then Texas and Minnesota. Dorothy quit working outside the home when her first child was born but returned to work after her children were grown. She moved back to Texas following her husband's death.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband; and her son, William Richard Rowan.

She is survived by two daughters, Dorothy Rowan Seils and husband Allan of Austin, and Nancy Rowan Stevens and husband Michael of Kyle; one son, James Michael Rowan and wife Teresa of Heath; four grandsons, Damon Michael Seils of Carrboro, North Carolina, James Michael Rowan of Durango, Colorado, and Clint Thomas Rowan of Portland, Oregon; and four great-grandsons, Rowan Lee Seils, Evan Zachary Seils, and Jon Perran Seils of Temple, and Michael Seils of New York City who was born the day before she died. We hope that Mama and Little Zach got to meet somewhere as she left us and he came to us.

Dorothy was intelligent and a voracious reader. During World War II she developed a keen interest in current events that lasted a lifetime and she read the newspaper every day until the last weeks of her life. She learned embroidery from her mother as a young girl. Although a reluctant student at the time, she took up embroidery as a hobby when she retired and made gifts for friends and keepsakes for her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

Dorothy was strong and independent; her life was hard but she determinedly looked on the bright side. Any gift or treat, no matter how small, was received with girl-like excitement and appreciation. Her life revolved around her family. As her family grew she never missed a birthday or anniversary, or forgot a favorite food. Her youngest son remained the center of her universe until his death. Now she can rest but will live on in all of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Graveside Service will be held at 11:00 am on Monday, May 7, 2012 at Assumption Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Retirement and Nursing Center Activities Fund, 6909 Burnet Lane, Austin, TX 78757.