Dr. Clay Coston Rowe

Clay Coston Rowe Sr. MD, 65, passed away peacefully at home on June 27, 2024 surrounded by his children Rebecca Coston, Clay Coston Jr, Stephen Peter, and Charles David Mercer. Clay lived a life full of love and devotion to God, his family, and his friends.

Clay was born on September 19, 1958 in Long Beach, California. Shortly after, he moved to Gadsden, Alabama, and he considered himself a life-long resident of Gadsden. He attended Disque Jr. High and Westminster (now Westbrook Christian School). He graduated high school from Baylor School in Chattanooga, earned his undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University, and his doctoral degree from the University of Alabama School of Medicine at UAB. After completing medical training, Clay returned to Gadsden to raise his family and spent nearly 40 years practicing family medicine in the same city as his father and grandfather before him. Clay was a hard-working, dedicated physician, and his patients knew him for his genuine care for them and his kind bed-side manner.

Clay had many interests and hobbies and a passion for learning and exploration. He loved to travel; he traveled to all 50 states, many European countries, and Israel. He was an avid reader, loved history and art, and enjoyed going to museums on his travels. Clay was also a collector who took a specific interest in collecting pilsners and steins. In more recent years, he discovered a love for painting, both in his own time and with close friends. He particularly enjoyed painting religious icons noting that the act of painting these helped him feel connected to God.

Clay’s defining characteristic of being a life-long learner, led him down many paths of inquiry from furthering his medical knowledge, to studying quantum physics, and even earning a degree from Saint Michael’s Seminary.

Clay loved God and raised his children at the Gadsden Vineyard Church, a church that ministered greatly to him and that he served well. Towards the end of his life, he attended and served at every Sunday service because he enjoyed them so much.

Clay loved his family. He is survived, loved, and remembered by his children, Rebecca Byrd (James), Coston Rowe (Janie), Stephen Peter Rowe (Addison), Charley Rowe (Mary Evelyn) and nephews Stephen Horton (Jess) and Andrew Horton; his grandchildren, who affectionately call him “Da”, Henry (5), Ruby (3), Winnifred (3), Francis (2), Katherine (1), Mercer (5 months); his siblings, Glover Rowe, Douglass Rowe (Melissa), and Reed Horton (Harlan); and niece, Tiffany Ford (Seth). He is preceded in death by his parents, Stephen William Rowe MD and Katherine Daughdrill Glover Rowe, and his nephew, Stephen Glover Rowe.

Clay’s unique sense of humor, enthusiasm for life, compassion, and empathy left a lasting impact on everyone who knew him. A visitation will be held at Collier-Butler Funeral Home on Monday, July 1, 2024 at 12:00 PM with a funeral service to follow at 2:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, we are asking that a donation be made to Gadsden Vineyard Church to help continue the ministry of this organization that was close to Clay's heart. For donation options please click this link.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/14BEXfPRsUrX9xYco-pqt6xe67LkEA6KrMORIprs4lgU/edit

Clay's legacy lives on through his family: the lessons he taught us, the songs he sang to us, the love he showed us, and the memories we cherish.