Emily Brooks Rowe

Emily Brooks Rowe passed away peacefully in Vacaville, CA on January 24, 2026. Emily was born in Sacramento on November 17, 1931 to Frederick and Margaret Brooks of Davis, CA.

Emily graduated from UC Davis in 1953. She was a strong advocate of education, not only for her six children but for the entire community. She served on school boards in Graton (Sonoma County) as well as in Dixon (Solano County). Other community activities included service on the Dixon Library Commission and longtime membership in the Tremont Mite Society. She was proud to have played a major role in getting the Tremont Church restored and listed on the California State Register of Historic Places.

Emily was fascinated by old houses and home restoration, antiques and collectibles, and also traveled widely. Notable trips included driving with children to Alaska in 1974 and Maine in 1978, and dairy-related trips to Australia and South Africa with Stuart. These and other interests notwithstanding, her lifelong passion revolved around animals and farming. During Emily's first marriage (to Robert Lynde from 1951 to 1979), family life included a hobby farm.

After moving from Graton to Dixon with her two youngest children in 1979, Emily married childhood friend Stuart Rowe in 1981. Her farming activities took on greater depth through involvement with his family's Innisfail Dairy. Recordkeeping, registering cattle, attending fairs and shows, and dealing with the myriad aspects of a full-time dairy business in partnership with Stuart filled many happy days. Stuart's leadership of the American Milking Shorthorn Society led them to spend 1997-2001 in Beloit, WI, at the Society's headquarters. Emily and Stuart also farmed in Orland, CA, from 2007-13, and then retired to their home at the Rowe family farmstead at Tremont in the Dixon area. In recent years, Emily enjoyed the continued presence of a few young cows and a pair of oxen at Tremont.

In Dixon, Emily was a member of Dixon United Methodist Church. She also felt a sense of belonging with Davis Friends Meeting, where she maintained friendships in connection with her mother Margaret, who had been a founding member of the Meeting many years prior. Emily was very fortunate to have had her mother close by for daily afternoon tea for most of her time in Graton as well as for many years after her return to the Davis area.

Emily is survived by her husband Stuart; children John (Theresa) of AZ, Dan (Robin) of CA, Sally (John) of CO, Molly (Michael) of MI, Rob (Renée) of CO, and Paul (Jill) of CA; also survived by stepchildren John, Courtney (Craig), Laura, and Erin (David), all of CA; and the combined families' many children and grandchildren.

A celebration of Emily's life will take place at the Dixon United Methodist Church (209 N. Jefferson Street, Dixon, 95620) on Saturday, February 28, at 1 p.m. with a reception immediately following. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be sent to the Alzheimer's Association at https://www.alz.org/.