Dorothy French Rowley

Dorothy Rowley passed away at her home in the East Bay Area community of Brentwood on the evening of January 12, 2011. Dorothy Rae French was the child of parents Raymond French and Oquella Waters French, (both now deceased), and was born in the City of Centralia, Washington. An outgoing, golden blond young woman with sparkling blue eyes, she married her husband at the age of 20-- her lifelong companion of 55 years, Charles Atwood Rowley, Sr. who passed away just a little over two years ago on New Years Eve of 2009. Dorothy is survived by her two daughter's Dr. Janine Rowley Cooley and her husband Doug, of Redmond, Washington and Allison and Tim Dillon of Livermore, CA-- as well as her son, Charles "Chip" Rowley, Jr., M.L.A. and his partner Steven Craig, residents of rural Bradley, CA in Southern Monterey County. In addition, Dorothy is survived by three grandchildren whom she adored: Ian Rowley Cooley and his wife Annie, Erin Rowley Cooley, and Drew William Dillon; other surviving family members include her two younger sisters, Jennifer French and Reina French Burlingame.

Dorothy was both the apple of her father's eye and the light of her husband's life. She appreciated and encouraged creativity, sewing many stylish ensembles for herself and her children. She enjoyed gardening, decorating, equestrian sports, service to her church congregation, as well as resuming her medical administration career after her early motherhood years. Above all, she took pride in her family's history of culinary craft, sharing mirthful stories of growing up within her parents nightclub and restaurant during the 1930's and early 40's in the Pacific Northwest.

After meeting at Lake Tahoe in 1950, Dorothy and Chuck married soon afterward, living briefly in Reno, NV. Work brought Chuck back to California to Pacific Bell headquarter's located in San Francisco at that time. After a few years home-based in Pacifica, the Rowley's finally re-settled in the transitioning new suburbs of the City of Concord, California. Here they raised and educated their children, reveled in aquatic sports recreation as a family, before the couple retired to the Sierra Foothills within the Mokulumne River Watershed of Calaveras County.

In keeping with her own spirit and sensibility, mom did everything that she could to ensure that each of her children were gifted with the best smile possible and taught us the value of sharing it with others. We will miss your own smile, dear mom-- and the laughter that always came with it!

She asked that contributions be made in her name to St. John's Lutheran Church, 1360 East Tregallas Road, Antioch, CA, 94509. Memorial services will be held at that location for her at 1 p.m. at St. John's on Saturday, January 15th, with a reception to follow. Family and friends--old and new-- are all welcome to come and to join in celebrating, remembering and honoring her life.

Arrangements under the direction of Brentwood Funeral Home, Brentwood, CA.