Clarence Lee Rowland

DENISON – A celebration of his life will be held at 7:00 P.M., Tuesday, December 27, 2011at Bratcher Funeral Home, with Tommy Cassidy officiating.

Visitation will be one hour before the service, from 6:00 – 7:00 P.M.

Pappy was born to Percy and Nell Rowland on August 18, 1917 in Denison, Texas. In life, Pappy loved being with family and loved ones. He died at his home on December 19, 2011, surrounded by family, which was one of his greatest wishes.

He married Nadine Waymire on January 13, 1940 in Durant, Oklahoma. He was a lifelong resident of Denison and attended Denison schools. He was a self-taught carpenter, a skill that kept him busy for many years. He helped build two houses for members of his family and basically tripled the size of his own house. He was a switchman for the Katy Railroad for almost 40 years – a job he truly loved. He was a member of N.A.R.V.R.E. and a lifetime member of the United Transportation Union. In the local chapter of the UTU, he served as secretary, treasurer, and local chairman over the course of many years. He was a third generation Katy man.

Pappy held many other jobs over the years. He worked in and eventually ran the print shop for the Corps of Engineers, supporting the construction of Denison Dam. Soon after becoming a Katy man, he was drafted into military service. He enlisted in the Navy and went through basic training in San Diego. He was chosen to be an offset printer and sent to Washington, D.C. for intensive training. After spending eight months in the Navy, he was discharged because he had three children at home. He worked at a neon sign company, working on the Rialto and Tucker Furniture signs. He also put the drip in the Allen’s Plumbing sign. He even did artwork for the yearbook while he was in high school.

Pappy was an excellent cook and ran a café at Grandpappy Point in the 50s. He also helped perform the first pasteurization of milk done in Denison at Ashburn’s Ice Cream Parlor. He loved to cook for his family and was also known to prepare meals for the guys in the shanty out at Ray Yard. One of his greatest loves was to have his family with him in life and death.

Pappy is survived by his children – daughters Katie Hamrick and her husband Charles of Mooresboro, NC; Linda Poulter and her husband Tom of Greenville, TX; Rosemary Householder and her husband Bobby of Denison; sons Bill Rowland of Denison; Tommy Rowland of Windsor, CT; 14 grandchildren –

Craig and Kevin Hamrick, Dr. Mendy Poulter-Martinez, Tommy Poulter, Tiffany Leopardi, Todd McConnell, David Rowland, Shara Barry, Stephanie Phalen, Robin Morris, Lisa Julian, Jeff, Jeremy and Jared Householder, and 27 great-grandchildren.

Pappy was preceded in death by his wife Nadine, son Wally, brother Palmer and an infant brother, and grandsons Michael Hamrick and Todd Rowland.

The family would like to extend special thanks to Dr. Ted Truly and nurse Gail, Dr. Ignacio Gonzales and nurse Linda, Always Better Care Home Health and Hospice; caregivers Ramona Zamora and Kendra Wakefield, and TLC Sitting Service. The family would especially like to thank Patsy Lindsey for reading the Bible to Pappy in his last weeks.

In Lieu of flowers, please make a donation to your favorite charity.

Arrangements are entrusted to Bratcher Funeral Home, 401 W. Woodard Street, Denison, TX 75020 (903) 465-2323. On line condolences may be made to the family at www.bratcherfuneralhome.com.