Donald Roger Mower Jr.

On Saturday, April 26th, 2025, Roger Mower, 85, of Murrells Inlet, SC & formerly of Gladwyne, Pa. passed away peacefully while at Legacy Village of Murrells Inlet. He was born on May 22, 1939, in Charlotte, North Carolina to the late Donald Roger Mower & Elizabeth Liles Mower.
Roger leaves behind his children, Andrew Mower of Philadelphia, Pa. and Elizabeth "Beth" Ford Rogers of Murrells Inlet; his adoring grandchildren, Austin & Alexandra; and a large loving family. He was preceded in death by his wife, Kay (d. 6/5/2024).
Roger graduated from Hampden-Sydney College, VA with a bachelor's degree in History and the Classics. He then went on to earn his masters in the History of American Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania. Roger married Kay in 1965 and lived in the Philadelphia area for almost 40 years before retiring to Murrells Inlet.
Roger began his teaching career in Philadelphia at The Episcopal Academy in Newtown Square and then spent the next 15 years as an instructor and assistant headmaster at the Shipley School in Bryn Mawr. In the early 80's, he left teaching to become the executive director of the John Bartram Association, which runs Bartram's Gardens, the nation's oldest botanical gardens and 18th century home. The site is on the National Registry of Historic Places and has appeared several times in Antiques magazines. As a noted architectural historian, Roger later served as deputy executive director of Montgomery County's Department of History and Cultural Arts, overseeing Mill Grove, home of John Audubon, Pennypacker Mills and Pottsgrove Manor where he stayed until his retirement in early 2000.
Roger will be remembered by his family and friends as a loving husband, caring father, grandfather and simply one of the kindest people you will ever meet. He loved classical music, history and botany and had plants from all over the world in his yard. Roger was extremely social and always enjoyed spending time with friends and meeting new people. He and Kay loved to entertain, travel and genuinely saw the good in everyone.
Roger and Kay were always active in their church and understood that serving God meant serving others. They were conscious of the needs in the community and followed the call of God's service. In their later years, as their health declined, they became the ones needing service. God provided them with unbelievably generous friends and neighbors who went above and beyond to care for their needs.
A private family burial service will be held at a later date at Prince George Winyah Parish Church in Georgetown.
At the request of the family, please consider memorial contributions in lieu of flowers. Donations in Roger's name may be made to Prince George Winyah Parish Church, 300 Broad Street, Georgetown, South Carolina, 29440.
The Rogers and Mower family would like to express their sincere gratitude to the wonderful people of Prince George, Wachesaw Plantation, Legacy Village and the many friends who loved and cared for Roger and Kay in their later years. Your kindness and service was a Godsend which we will never forget.
To send flowers
to the family, please visit our floral store.