Ronald Dee Rowley

Ron Rowley recently reflected to his family that he was grateful to have been able to live a very long and full life. He did the things he had to do and was fortunate to be able to do the things he wanted to do. He pursued his passions with enthusiasm, energy, confidence and graciousness. His friendliness to all and his engaging personality gained him a community of friends that endured and grew with each passing year.

Ron had a deep love for sailing and any large body of water that could sustain a sailboat. He was the proud owner of (too many to count) sailboats throughout his life. He was a long-standing (1970’s) member of the Great Salt Lake Yacht Club and every season he gladly played an integral role in the growth and development of sailing on the Great Salt Lake. He enthusiastically embraced his love of sailing and that took him to places and waters far and wide including California, Baja-Mexico and Belize. His stories of his adventures were enjoyed by everyone.

One of Ron’s favorite pastimes was watching ice hockey, specifically the Utah Lady Grizzlies. He spent many hours cheering for and supporting his Granddaughter, Sofia, who plays goalie for the Grizzlies 19U Tier 1, AAA travel team. For many seasons he was a constant attendee at her practices and, as was his way, he became friends with many of the team parents and even the coaches. He was the best “Hockey Grandpa” ever.

Ron was a creative, artistic man with a wealth of abilities which gained him numerous connections that he maintained throughout his life. It was always a running family joke that you could not go anywhere with Ron that he didn’t run into someone that he knew. Ron was also an excellent craftsman. In his spare time, he loved to work with wood, masterfully creating beautiful sculptures of marine mammals and birds.

Ron was an avid tennis player for many years. He switched to Pickleball and became a fan of the game long before it became popular. He thoroughly enjoyed his regular pickleball games 3 days each week. The numerous friends that he met there made him happy and enriched his life.

Ron Rowley was an amazing man with a heart of gold, and he lived life on his terms. He loved his life, and he loved his family. As the years passed, he gained a deeper love and appreciation for his family and all that they meant to him. The void that he is leaving in all our lives is vast. Our comfort will be all the memories we have of him, and we will cherish those memories for the rest of our lives.

Ron is survived by his children, Michelle (Rob) Whitesides of San Pedro, California; Bruce (Tiea) Rowley of Salt Lake City, Utah. His grandchildren include Andrew (Stephanie) Whitesides, Karyn Whitesides, Sarah Whitesides (Daniel Adriano) and Sofia Rowley. He has one great-grandson, Anson Whitesides.

Ron was preceded in death by his brother Kenneth Levon Rowley and is survived by his sister Janet Ann Overson.

Interment will be at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park, 3401 S Highland Drive, Millcreek, UT 84106

A “Celebration of Life” to honor Ron will be held at the Great Salt Lake Park & Marina on June 19, 2025, from 6:00 – 8:00 pm in the evening. All are welcome. A few words will be said by Ron’s family promptly at 6:00 with an open house to follow. (Map or web search Great Salt Lake Park & Marina for directions. (Take I-80 west, take Saltair exit 140, turn left/west and follow signs).

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to any entity of your choosing that is dedicated to preserving the Great Salt Lake. Other options include “Friends of Great Salt Lake”, a 501(c) (3) organization dedicated to advocating for the protection of the Great Salt Lake. Please see fogsl.org for more information or “Grow the Flow”, a 501(c) (3) organization dedicated to conserving land and water resources with a focus on the Great Salt Lake. Please see growtheflowutah.org for more information.