Ruth A. Rowley

Ruth A. Rowley, a longtime resident of Lyons, died Sunday, December 10, 2006, at her home in Pine Bluffs, Wyoming. She was 77.Mrs. Rowley was born September 11, 1929, in her grandparents' house in Lincoln, Nebraska, one of four children born to William and Florence Stevens. She attended elementary and secondary school in Omaha, graduating from South High School in 1947.On a vacation trip to Colorado, she met Jack R. Rowley of Lyons, and in 1948 they were married, a union that lasted 56 years, and ended with Jack?s death in January 2005. They had four sons, Jack, James, Bill and Charles.Jack and Ruth lived in Lyons where Jack was in the stone business and for some years operated a stone quarry with his father. From 1959 to 1963, they lived in Laramie where Jack was involved in the construction of numerous buildings on the University of Wyoming campus, and where he also was responsible for the construction of a large stone pedestal to hold a larger-than-life bust of Abraham Lincoln. In 1963 they returned to Lyons, where they lived for more than 20 years until Jack?s retirement when they moved to Pine Bluffs, Wyoming.Ruth loved books, music, movies, and always enjoyed stimulating conversations with friends about politics and current events. One of her special interests was the history of Colorado, and she particularly enjoyed visiting communities such as Central City, Idaho Springs, and Georgetown after becoming familiar with historical events that had occurred there, and the lives of the colorful individuals who contributed to the history of their communities and the state.She was preceded in death by her parents, an infant brother and an infant sister, her husband, and two sons, Jack and James.She is survived by her sons, Bill of Lyons and Charles of Pine Bluffs; a grandson, Jack of Lyons; a brother, William E. Stevens of Wyoming and Arizona; cousins Marvin Stevens of Hot Springs, South Dakota, and Chuck McMillen of Little Rock, Arkansas; and an aunt, Leona Ristau Way of Lincoln, Nebraska.No visitation is planned. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, December 15, 2006 at the Longs Peak Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Lyons. Interment will follow at Lyons Cemetery.Memorials may be made to the Ruth Rowley Memorial Fund, c/o Howe Mortuary, 439 Coffman St., Longmont, Colorado 80501. Please share your thoughts, memories and condolences with the family at www.howemortuary.com.