April 13, 1940 – March 27, 2021
Blossome was born in Cabarrus County, North Carolina, where her mother, Blake Mullis Witcher worked for Cannon Mills, a premier employer of its day. She was raised at “the Big House”, the family home on Carriker Road in northern Union County where she died in her sleep nearly 81 years later. Blossome was raised by her grandparents, Faye Ellen Brooks Mullis and Calvin Mullis, who she called, Mama and Daddy. She was raised as the youngest of 14 siblings and cousins, but that number does not include all the other cousins who were a constant presence at the Big House through her growing-up years.
In December of 1960, Blossome married Donald H. Rowell, forging a union that would last the rest of her life, and produce two children, Michael H. Rowell, and Michelle R. Starnes.
To many people, Blossome was known as “the Avon Lady”. She earned that distinction by selling Avon for more than 50 years, beginning when she gave up “public work”, which included a daily commute to Charlotte where she worked for a big insurance company, to be closer to home after her kids were born.
She was also well known for the beautiful flower gardens that surrounded her home. Blossome continued the gardens her Mama had tended for decades before, expanding, and improving them with loving care, and working in the summer heat to maintain them. She loved to share her bounty and would let people know when she was separating a bed that had grown too thick. She would help you dig up bulbs for transplanting or share cuttings with anyone who wanted a special plant. She also loved dogs and cats and wild birds, as well as chickens, goats, and whatever critters found refuge in their pasture.
For many years, while the family was young and next generation cousins were plentiful, Blossome continued the tradition of keeping the Big House as the weekend gathering place. All the bedrooms would fill up with adults, and kids would sleep on pallets throughout the house. A lot of Mamas and a few Daddies cooked, and people ate in shifts because there was no room big enough for everyone at once. Clean up was never-ending. There was often fresh pie and ALWAYS a pot of coffee. Sometimes there was no place to sit, but there was always plenty of room for love.
But perhaps the part of her life that Blossome held most dear was being MawMaw to her beloved grands and to other lucky children that she kept. She was fearless at the prospect of wrangling groups of kids and would fill her van with children for summer trips to Carowinds and to the beach. She enjoyed the companionship of young people and she liked teaching them things and providing them with adventures.
One of Blossome’s greatest wishes was to be able to stay in her own home for as long as she lived. That wish was fulfilled by her loving family, as they stayed with her as needed, including, sometimes, around the clock. No one was more dedicated to her care and more diligent in providing it than her husband, Don. Don’s attentiveness was evident from the earliest indications of her disease and it never wavered as the disease progressed. Sometimes “for better or for worse” can use the worst to bring out the best. This was one of those times.
In addition to Don, Michael, and Michelle (all of Monroe), Blossome is survived by grandsons: Zachary H. Rowell (Boca Raton, FL); Spencer M. Rowell, wife, Jordan, and great grandson Brooks M. Rowell (all of Monroe); and Skyler Rowell (Monroe); granddaughter Emily S. Ross and husband, Daniel Ross (Dawsonville, GA); grandson Brayden Starnes, and granddaughter Lanie Starnes (both of Monroe); beloved in-laws; Kathleen (Brooks) Mullis (Goodview, VA); Ted (Patt) Broome, and Brenda (Lee) Mullis (both of Monroe); an especially faithful friend, Helen Clayton (Monroe), who made Blossome’s final years more pleasant, and made her family’s lives easier; and by dozens of loving cousins. Blossome was predeceased by her entire birth family: Pratt Mullis; Blake Witcher; Blanche Hamilton; Brooks Mullis; Ruth Kiker; James Calvin Mullis; Faye Ellen Stultz; Chloe Ballard; John Belk Mullis; Jewel Cope; Nell Shelley; Patt Broome; and Lee Mullis.
Blossome is to be cremated, and a memorial service held in her honor at 2:00 PM on Monday, March 29, 2021 at McEwen Funeral Home, 204 South Main Street, Monroe, NC. Elder Charles Smith is conducting the service. Visitation will immediately follow the service, at the same location. The Service can be viewed on Facebook by visiting the McEwen Funeral Home of Monroe's Facebook page. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 4600 Park Rd, Suite 250, Charlotte, NC 28209.
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