Gene Eugene Rowland

Burl Eugene Rowland, better known as "Gene," passed away at his home on June 27, 2025, leaving behind a life built on grit, love, and rodeo dust. Born November 7, 1946, in Bartlesville, Oklahoma to Virgil Leon and Viola Mae (Brown) Rowland, Gene was a true Oklahoma cowboy through and through.

Gene grew up running free across the plains of Oklahoma, attending McClain High School in Tulsa before graduating from Skiatook High School. He was an athlete from the start and found his lifelong passion in the rodeo arena-first riding broncs and bulls, later taking on calf roping and eventually team roping. Wherever there was a rodeo, Gene wasn't far behind.

He was married to his sweetheart, Deneil, for 58 years, tying the knot on May 20, 1967- a partnership that was the bedrock of a life filled with family, friends, and rodeo. Together they raised a family that rodeoed, traveled, played cards, and spent many weekends just enjoying the simple good things in life with friends and family.

Gene worked at American Airlines until retirement, but he was never one to sit still. When he was home you could always find him in the barn finding stuff to do. Gene grew up in Turley, later living in Dewey, Mounds, and Kiefer over the years, always with horses in the pasture and cattle nearby. Saturdays were for the Bristow Mid-America Cattle Sales, a place he truly loved. When not working with livestock, he was likely planning a trip to Branson, another favorite stop on his trail.

He had a strong circle of friends-cowboys, card players, rodeo pals-and he leaves behind a legacy of laughter, love, and good stories shared over a fence post or around the dinner table.

Gene is survived by his loving wife, Deneil Rowland; his children, Kim Fleak of Prague and Jake Rowland of Bixby; and his grandchildren Karsten Landers (Cole) of Fort Worth, TX, Connor Fleak (fiancée MiKayla) of Edmond, Libby Rowland, Case Rowland, and Parker Rowland, all of Bixby.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, July 7, 2025, at Mounds Community Church, 1213 Dorman Ave., Mounds, OK 74047. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Gene's memory to Mounds Community Church, PO BOX 138, Mounds, OK 74047.

Ride easy, Cowboy. You earned your rest.