Harold C. “Butch” Rowley
Harold C. “Butch” Rowley, 69, of Kennedy, passed away Wednesday (June 22, 2016) after a lengthy and courageous battle with cancer.
A lifelong area resident, he was born Jan. 22, 1947, in Jamestown, the son of the late Harold B. and Olita Sisson Rowley.
Butch attended Frewsburg High School and in earlier years was employed by Vac Air Alloys in Frewsburg. Prior to retirement in 1994, Butch was employed by the town of Poland highway department.
He was a member of the Kennedy Fire Department and served on the Board of Commissioners for 12 years. Butch enjoyed hunting, repairing and restoring old tractors and equipment, attending auctions and sales as well as spending time with his family and extended family.
Surviving are his wife, Ruth A. Vanstrom Rowley, whom he married July 27, 1968, in Jamestown; three children: Victoria (Wayne) Rishell of Jamestown, H. Mark Rowley of Kennedy, and Carrie Rowley of Fayetteville, N.C.; two brothers: Herb (Sue) Rowley and Hal Rowley, all of Frewsburg; five sisters: Edith (Dick) Moore of Frewsburg, Evelyn (Al) Suchar of Jamestown, Emma (Bryon) McCreary of Frewsburg, Elaine (David) Stephan of Olean, N.Y., and Ellen (David) Howard of Owego, N.Y.; and several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
Besides his parents, Butch was preceded in death by a sister, Elma Remington and two brothers: Henry and Howard Rowley.
The family would like to thank Dr. Christina Brown, Dr. Peter Walter, Lisa Raymond FNP and Chautauqua Hospice and Palliative Care for their care of and compassion for Butch during his illness.
The family will receive friends from 5-8 p.m. Thursday in the Falconer Funeral Home. The Kennedy Fire Department will conduct a memorial service at 7 p.m., Thursday in funeral home
The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Friday in the Falconer Funeral Home. The Rev. James D. Witherington, chaplain of Chautauqua County Hospice and Palliative Care, will officiate. Burial will be in Myrtle Cemetery, Town of Poland.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be donated to Chautauqua County Hospice and Palliative Care, 20 W. Fairmount Ave., Lakewood, NY 14750, or to the Kennedy Fire Department, 3590 Dailey Hill Road, Kennedy, NY 14747.
