Gregory Bert Rowles

February 25, 1953 — September 24, 2023

Gregory Bert "Greg" Rowles, 70, died from complications related to prostate cancer, seven years after he was first diagnosed. Born and raised in Salem, Ore., Greg developed a love for sports at an early age, excelling and lettering in football, baseball, and basketball at North Salem High School. Team sports taught him the importance of hard work, diligence, integrity, and how to foster success in others, ideals he put into practice his entire life.

Greg went on to play football and baseball at Willamette University before transferring to Oregon State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Education and a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity. Soon after college he met Linda Olson of Portland, and a member of Tri Delta sorority at Oregon State. The two officially met on New Year's Eve in 1978, then eighteen months later married and settled into life in Beaverton, Ore., where they put down roots for the duration of their 43-year marriage. There they raised two sons, Colin and Kevin, with Greg thrilled to coach their school and youth sports teams, as well as educate and guide them in his love of hunting and fishing. He always instilled in them the same values and life lessons he lived by.

Greg taught business and coached basketball and football at Hillsboro High School for four years, then transitioned to spend the remainder of his career in the financial industry. He retired as a legal analyst for The Standard in 2018. Whether on the field, around the home, or at work, Greg was a consummate teacher. He was always willing to teach if someone wanted to learn, and he was generous in giving his time to those who asked him for it. He was tenacious when solving problems and handy around the house.

While working full time, Greg went back to coaching high school basketball for eight years in the metro league at Southridge High School in Beaverton. After retiring, he continued as a basketball scout for Southridge and was a frequent attendee at many basketball and football games in the area.

Greg's hobbies reflected his love of the outdoors: hunting, fishing, gardening, snow and water skiing, and golf. Many family outings took place at campgrounds, atop snowy mountains in the Pacific NW, on trails, at lakes, and at Sunriver, Ore. As Colin and Kevin grew up, Greg and Linda prioritized travel to destinations both in and out of state to support the boys' teams wherever they played.

Relationships were a priority for Greg, and he was good at keeping up with friends. He had a tenderness for mementoes that reminded him of people and the good times he spent with them. He nurtured others and took pride in a job well done.

As long-time members of Sunset Presbyterian Church, Greg and Linda both sang in the choir. With him a tenor and her an alto, they could stand next to each other and tune into each other's voices when performing. Greg was also known to spontaneously sing in the car and serenade his neighbors while doing yardwork.

When Greg was diagnosed with cancer, he approached treatment the same way he handled the rest of his life, with courage, resolve, and a willingness to learn everything he could about the disease and how to fight it. He loved inspirational sayings that helped him get through some of his most difficult times. Two of those sayings in particular reflect the way Greg approached life: "Happiness is a state of mind you create by choosing your attitude," and, "It is not the things we do in life that we regret on our deathbed, it's the things we do not."

Those who Greg loved know he had little to regret except not having more days here on Earth to be with family and friends. He is survived by his wife, Linda, his sons Colin (Courtney), and Kevin (Lauren), and two grandchildren. Interment at Sunset Hills Memorial Park. Donations to honor Greg's love of nature and reforestation may be made to the Arbor Day Foundation. Comments welcome at finleysunsethills.com.