Muskogee Daily Phoenix Obituaries

ROWSEY -- Paul Edward, Jr. , 74, of Muskogee, passed away, peacefully, in the presence of his family on August 17, 2001. He was born November 4, 1926 in Muskogee, OK, the son of Paul E. and Valena George Rowsey. A Businessman and Civic Leader, Paul E. Rowsey, Jr. was recognized by all who knew him as a gentleman who loved his family and cherished his friends. Mr. Rowsey completed high school at Shattuck School, Faribault, MN, where he was the Battalion Leader and Captain of the Crack Squad, the oldest school military drill team in the United States. Following his graduation from Shattuck School, Mr. Rowsey served as an Officer in the U.S. Army in the European Theatre in World War II. After the war Mr. Rowsey attended the University of Oklahoma and obtained his degree in Business in 1949. He was a member of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. He met Marianne Collins of Oklahoma City at O.U. and they were married August 11, 1948 in Oklahoma City. They returned to Muskogee where he joined his father in the family business, City Chevrolet Co., one of the oldest family owned automobile dealerships in the United States. Later, his brother, Jim and son, John joined the company. He served as President of City Chevrolet until 1986. He then served as an Executive with the Muskogee Hospital Foundation and later with The Conners State College Development Foundation. He served on the Board of Directors of numerous business, civic and charitable organizations including the First National Bank of Muskogee, the Mus kogee Port Authority and the Muskogee County Excise Board, Phoenix Federal Savings and Loan, the YWCA, the Girl Scouts of America, the Muskogee Chamber of Commerce, The Five Civilized Tribes Museum, Muskogee Salvation Army and The United Way. Mr. Rowsey was a member of the Young Presidents Organization and served as President and Trustee of Sequoyah Outing Club. He was a past member of The Muskogee Country Club. He was a past President of the Muskogee Rotary Club and was recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow. Paul Edward Rowsey, Jr. is survived by: his wife, Marianne Collins Rowsey; brother, James P. Rowsey and sister, Marty Anthis of Muskogee and their spouses, Candy Rowsey and Ernest Anthis, Jr.; daughter and son-in-law, Carol and Stephen G. Solomon of Oklahoma City; son and daughter-in-law, Paul E. III and Bonnie Rowsey of Dallas; son and daughter-in-law, John F. and Lynn Rowsey of Muskogee; grandchildren, John Solomon and Andrew Solomon of Oklahoma City, Lee Rowsey and Rebecca Rowsey of Muskogee, Paul E. Rowsey IV, Frederic Rowsey and Laura Rowsey of Dallas. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, August 22, 2001 at St. Paul United Methodist Church, 2130 West Okmulgee in Muskogee where Mr. Rowsey was a life long member. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to St. Paul Methodist Church or to medical research on the disease that confronted Mr. Rowsey through The Society for Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, Inc., Woodholme Medical Building, Suite 515, 1838 Greene Tree Road, Baltimore, MD 21208. The family has entrusted Bradley Family Funeral Service with the arrangements, 918-682-3361.