Carl Rowley

Carl Marion Rowley, beloved husband, father, and esteemed member of the community, passed away peacefully on July 21, 2024.

Born on November 10, 1934 in French Camp, California, Carl was the son of Carl George Rowley and Leah Pyne Rowley, who instilled in him a strong work ethic, and helped form him into a man of great integrity, honesty, loyalty and dedication. His childhood was shaped during the Great Depression, and he learned well the lessons of tight family bonds, making the best of things, gratitude, and that joy was to be found in a life of service-- and in sports.

Carl was a true athlete and lettered in basketball, baseball, and football at Lincoln High School in Orem, Utah. Upon graduation he was offered athletic scholarships by both Snow and Dixie colleges, and an academic scholarship from Utah State, but he turned them all down to attend Brigham Young University and keep an eye on his true love and future beloved wife, Maxine Moon. After earning his bachelor's degree from BYU Carl continued his studies at the University of Utah where he received his Master of Social Work degree and embarked on a very successful career in social work and counseling. During his professional years he worked for The State of California Dept. of Mental Hygiene, the State of Utah, Utah Valley Hospital, LDS Social Services, and BYU. He helped people find employment, counseled troubled teens, assisted in grief counseling and organ donation, provided marriage counseling and taught the next generation of counselors studying at BYU.

In the community Carl was known for his willingness to lend a helping hand and he touched the lives of many with his kindness and empathy. He was a devoted member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and served in many roles over the years. He especially loved his time as Bishop of a BYU ward and often invited his young ward members to the Rowley household for family home evenings. While he had many leadership opportunities in his faith, a few of his favorite callings were teaching the Sunbeams class and serving in the Mount Timpanogos temple.

Beyond his professional achievements and church service, Carl's true legacy lies in his role as a devoted family man. After four years of dating on and off, Carl proposed to the beautiful and talented Maxine (Mackie) Moon. Carl felt like he should be at least 20 years old before the onset of matrimony, but hey, what would be the point of putting it off? So, they married in the Salt Lake Temple on November 10, 1954-Carl's twentieth birthday. Carl and his cherished Mackie built a loving home filled with lots of loud laughter, parties, celebrations, get-togethers, and drop-bys. You always knew you were welcome at the Rowley home.

Carl loved gardening and grew an enormous number of crops from his yard. He loved growing and eating all kinds of fruits and vegetables, and it was very common to find him snacking on green plums or an entire head of raw cauliflower or cabbage. Carl and Maxine harvested and preserved everything from grape juice to bottled peaches and tomato sauce from their yard each year. Carl enjoyed sports, skiing, fishing, woodworking, stone masonry, and found special meaning and peace whenever he could spend time in the mountains. His profession was to observe and serve, and those skills perhaps helped form him into a man who didn't share his deepest feelings verbally. But he was a prodigious journal keeper and filled many volumes with the pride and love he felt for his family, especially his children and grandchildren, and those words and sentiments are a true treasure.

Carl is survived by his children Creig (Laurie) Rowley - son, Mary Rowley - daughter-in-law, LeeAnn (Dean) Payne - daughter, Tamara Rowley - daughter-in-law, Kathleen (Jim) Francis - daughter, Val (Merilee) Rowley - son, 25 grandchildren, 58 great-grandchildren, his sister Kleah Nelson, his brother Neil Rowley, and a wide circle of family and friends who will remember him fondly. He will be dearly missed for his wisdom, his humor, and his unwavering love.

Carl is preceded in death by his wife Maxine and his parents, Carl & Leah Pyne Rowley Meldrum, Stephen Rowley- Son, Russell Rowley - son, Lorilee Rowley - daughter-in-law, Gene Rowley - brother.

The funeral service to honor Carl Rowley will take place on Saturday, August 3, 2024, at 11:00 AM at the LDS chapel at 942 N 500 E in Pleasant Grove, UT, where friends and family will gather to celebrate his life. Prior to the service, a public viewing will be held at 9:45 AM at the same location. May we come together to share stories, memories, and love as we bid farewell to a remarkable man who touched the lives of many. Your presence and support are welcomed during this time of remembrance.