Edwin Fred Rowley

Edwin Fred Rowley (1936 - 2024) was a man not easily forgotten.  In sharing his story, we honor the depth of his legacy and the countless lives he touched.

Nestled in the wilderness of the Ute Indian Reservation in Mountain Home, Utah, stood the humble home of June (Stevens) and Edwin Rowley.  On October 22, 1936, June sent her government trapper husband out into the morning chill to fetch the doctor.  It was time.  Alone in their little dirt-floor shack, June welcomed their firstborn son, Edwin Fred Rowley, into the world.

During the first 14 years of his life, Fred grew up in Mountain Home with his four siblings - LaRue, Julia, Leslie, and Vickie.  The family eventually moved to Salt Lake City, where Fred graduated from West High School in 1955.  It was in those teenage years that his passion for cars began.  Not a day would go by that he didn't dream of what his new ride might be.

In 1956, Fred moved to Bynum, Montana, to live with his uncle, Smoot Rowley.  Soon after while at a dance in Fairfield, he asked a beautiful woman with wire-rimmed glasses to dance. Later that year on November 27th, Fred married Patricia Frisbee. He was barely 20 years old, and Patricia was 17.

After a short stay in Salt Lake City, Fred and Patricia returned to Montana, where Fred built their first home in 1962.  A tiny log cabin in Great Falls on the banks of the Sun River. This home was a testament to his grit and dedication. The traits that not only defined every chapter of his life but ones he passed down to his children, Rickey Jay (1959), Steven Kay (1960) and Patti Lyn (1962).  The home went through the flood of 1964 but still stands today.

Fred's heart truly belonged to the wilderness.  His children have fondest memories of visiting their cabin on Logging Creek in the Little Belt Mountains.  Fred built a legacy of craftsmanship, resilience, and admiration for the land while spending weekends in nature with his family. In 1969, Fred picked up a chainsaw and carved his first sculpture, sparking what would become the Legend of the Lost Woodsman.

Life took Fred and his family across Montana, with Fred working tirelessly in various trades such as a butcher for Buttrey's and other handyman jobs. Settling outside Patricia's hometown of Power, in 1974, Fred continued processing meat in the shop he built. While nurturing a farm filled with horses, llamas, emus, cows, sheep, pigs, peacocks, geese, pigeons, pheasants, and chickens.  He also tended to injured animals he encountered in the fields surrounding his home.  Fred became known not just for his hard work and craftsmanship but also fondly as "my bus driver" to countless children in the area.  He drove the Power school bus for almost 20 years.

In 1992, Fred and Patricia moved to Lincoln, Montana, where he was beloved by many.  He spent his days working handyman jobs and plowing snowy roads during the long winters. Later in life, he worked many seasons on fire camp crews in the Bob Marshall Wilderness.  In his spare time, Fred enjoyed his collection of antiques and showing off his vintage cars, especially his ivory 1965 Cadillac DeVille convertible.  He loved participating in summer parades and car shows across Montana.  One of his favorite pastimes was giving rides to friends, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

When his health began to fail in April 2024, Fred moved to Arizona to be closer to his family.  His spirit remained vibrant even as his physical strength waned.  He made friends wherever he went.  Always eager to learn about others' lives and make new connections.

On November 28, 2024, Thanksgiving Day, we said goodbye to our dearest Fred Rowley.  He lives on through those he loved so dearly.  Fred was preceded in death by his parents Edwin and June, his brother Leslie ( Carol) Rowley, and sister Julia ( Brian) Yates.  He is survived by his lifelong companion Patricia; siblings LaRue (David) Roberts and Vickie (Jack) Cowan.  His children Rick (Supin) Rowley, Steve (Tammy) Rowley, and Patti (David) Gettel; his grandchildren Rossie (Phil), Rikki (Jim), Jade (Courtney), Jordan, Freddy, Senia (Sean); Tyson and Brooke (Jason); Lynsie, Rose (Justin), Grace and Rudy; his great-grandchildren Gabrielle (Keaton), Abraham, Ezra, Isabelle, Sophie, Joelle-Marie, and Canaan; Miyah, Maddi, Stella, Sawyer, and Kash; Aspen, Remington, and Scout; Aiden, Elliot, Dalton, and Jackson; Noah and Adelyn; and his great-great-grandchildren, Kohen and Kieran.

Fred's life was a tapestry of hard work, adventure and unconditional love.  He was a brother, husband, father, grandfather, bus driver, butcher, craftsman, handyman, woodsman, storyteller and friend.

He is our legend, and will be greatly missed.