Connie LaRae Rowley November 30, 1961 - May 10, 2020

Amazing Woman, Beautiful Soul

My amazing bride, loving wife, best friend ever, faithful companion, pure soul…. Connie passed away in her sleep, 11:28am on Mother’s Day, 2020. That had to be her sweetest Mother’s Day ever, with her suffering behind her and her magnificent soul soaring to meet her Savior and her loved ones, who preceded her. She was 58 years old.

Her power and vitality were stunning; enough life for 3 people was bursting out of that crippled little body, ravaged through years of lupus’ destroying her blood cells, life-saving medications with long-term consequences, and both successful surgeries, as well as surgeries which went terribly wrong. In spite of countless health challenges, her wellspring of love energy, resilience, determination and stamina was otherworldly. Random uplifting chats with total strangers was her hallmark. Yellow was her favorite color, because it’s the color of sunshine; she “scattered sunshine” everywhere she went.

Connie LaRae Rowley was born 30 November, 1961 in Salt Lake City Utah and raised in Henderson, Nevada, from infancy. She attended Robert L. Taylor Elementary School, Burkholder Jr. High and Basic High School, all in Henderson. She treasured her beautiful, lifelong friendship with Joyce Dwiggins Carducci, who lived across the street, beginning with young childhood and continuing to her last day on earth. Many additional long-term friendships came to life along the way, each one loved as though they were her only friend.

After high school, she attended Brigham Young University for three years, majoring in Communications. She worked at McDonalds in High School and waitressed at Rusty Nail Pizza, during college. Her looks, fun personality and charm garnered the attention of many eligible young men, even to the point of attending the BYU Homecoming formal dance on two different nights with different dates.

She was married May 22, 1982, to David Rowley in the St. George, Utah Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She and her husband were married just 12 days short of 38 years, on the day of her passing. She was an active and faithful member of the Church, going out of her way to make all feel loved, but with extra love to those who seemed alone. Her home was the destination for Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner, for many of the “unattached’ individuals of her neighborhood and/or church congregation.

After marriage, she chose to focus on interests outside of college. To earn her own spending money after marriage, she was frequently employed as first choice for front receptions and switchboard for Geneva Steel Corporation when their permanent receptionist took time off. This was arranged via her decade-long employment with SOS Temporary Services, who considered her a star employee. SOS also sent her to manage the front desk and switchboard in the early days of a startup software and services company, Novell, Inc., which eventually outgrew the Orem location where she worked. She also loved working for a high-end custom fish aquarium manufacturer, when sent by SOS.

During that time, she and Dave also grew to love their foster son, Jerry Neaman, who was attending Timpview High School and playing football, when he came to their home. Connie loved his new son Teddy as her own grandson, as well as his other children. She also adored her new nephew and niece, Michael and Tara Golden, whom she cared for frequently, during the day.

After 10+ years of marriage, she and Dave celebrated the birth of their first child, Jennifer Lauren, on 10 January, 1993. Not long after, they moved to St. Paul, Minnesota where they joyed in the birth of their son, Michel David on 15 January, 1995. Between her husband’s grad school at University of Minnesota and subsequent employment, they resided 15 years in Minnesota, before returning to Utah 4 July, 2008.

Her gifts and hobbies were almost too numerous to mention, but included being the family “travel agent;” working as a voting judge in Provo in the 1980’s; frequent travel to Europe with her parents, “family photographer,” community celebrations, including attending the Minnesota State Fair; 70’s and 80’s contemporary R&B and disco, including Anita Baker, Earth Wind and Fire, Doobie Brothers, Steely Dan, etc. She also loved “comfort foods,” such as chicken fried steak with mashed potatoes and milk gravy; also mac & cheese.

She was a lifelong fan of the soap opera, “The Young and the Restless,” as well as adding Entertainment Tonight, Hannity, Life, Liberty and Levin, McGyver and Judge Jeanine to her viewing. She was in constant motion, working on bills, etc., even while viewing her programs.

She poured her soul into being a mother, with countless day trips to the village library in St. Anthony Park, MN, The Minneapolis Children’s Theatre, and excursions the length and breadth of lovely Minnesota. At the end of every day, she cuddled each child, reviewed her/his day and sang a medley of songs, such as “You Are My Sunshine,” Pinky Winky Baby, I Love You a Bushel and a Peck. Books and stories were a huge part of her mothering, including “Curious George,” Catherine Oxenbury books, Dr. Suess, and countless others.

The births of her beloved nephews and nieces, were a great source of joy. Mark’s daughter Isabella was especially close to her; Connie used a sweet, high note in her voice, when with little children, and they were charmed at how she seemed to express things on their level, especially when she ascribed feelings to stuffed animals, dolls and other inanimate objects.

She loved any and every baby animal she ever saw and had a signature tender laugh for anything cute or precious, whether animal or human. The new Love of Her Life was baby Ashton, her 7-month-old grandson. Jennifer and Saxton had decided to make their Mother’s Day visit one Day early, on Saturday, 9 May. Connie basked in the Baby Time, like a seal on a warm rock.

She and Dave returned to Utah in 2008 (City of Payson), to be closer to both sets of parents as they got older, as well as giving the children a chance to know their cousins a little better. With his blessing, she began leaving Dave 3 times a year to care for her parents a month at a time, in January, June and October. Ironically, she needed a lot of care, but she managed her own care just fine, as she deep cleaned, organized, did paperwork, and ran errands for her parents.

Beginning with November 2019, her health gradually worsened, culminating in her passing on Mother’s Day, 2020; however, she never just laid around, waiting to be served. Although a great deal of lifting and ancillary care and assistance for her was needed, her requests were always humble and only a last resort. She labored unbelievably with a crumbling spine and pelvis her last two weeks, but still insisted on using her walker, as she gathered courage for every small step to get to household tasks. For he past few weeks, as Dave lifted her into bed, she would practically “pass out,” in profound slumber, exhausted from pain and weakness, fighting and clawing her way through each day with courage and stamina and a mighty heart, easily equal or surpassing heroes of legend and history, both remembered and forgotten.

The new Love of Her Life was baby Ashton, her 7-month-old grandson. Jennifer and Saxton had decided to make their Mother’s Day visit one Day early, on Saturday, 9 May. Connie basked in the Baby Time, like a seal on a warm rock. The timing was fortuitous. Mother’s Day came and went, with Connie’s turning back as she ascended out of her body to gaze lovingly at her beloved husband and posterity.

She is survived by her Spouse, David Rowley, Payson, UT, Daughter Jennifer (husband Saxton & 7 month old grandson Ashton), son Michael Rowley, Parents Legrand and Donna Hall, siblings Susan (Arlen) Herbst, Kathy (John) Holmes, Mark Hall and daughter Isabella, “adopted” sister Merche Beard, and many beloved nieces, nephews and extended family members, who loved her (Her Facebook page was flooded with condolences from many loving friends and family).

She was preceded in death by her brothers, Steven and David Hall, as well as many beloved aunts, Uncles, cousins, grandparents and extended family, with whom she is now celebrating, As they say in sports, “She left it ALL on the field of play.” She believes in life after death and that her family is forever.