Christopher Blair Rowley

Its been three months since my beautiful brother left us. I miss him more than I thought it possible. It still seems unreal. Someone, somewhere must have made a mistake. My brother really can’t be gone….

Chris once said something to me that greatly impacted my life. I think that hearing his words again now will help all those who are missing him like I am.

Chris Rowley-“Juanita, you are going to miss all the things you do have, focusing on the things you don’t have.”

Once these words did so much for me. My heart will always miss my Chris as I will look into the future and hold on to these precious words from him.

His devoted sister,

Juanita

Marilyn, Blair, Barbie, & Ta,

I think we can all agree that Chris had a great life! He lived to the fullest in every way. Although he was taken from us so soon, his words and energy will never be forgotten. He has always been a mentor to me, and always will…

In this tragic time, may the Lord help you find peace in the love of each other. Hold on to each other and don’t let go.

Your Friend/ Family,

Love,

Steve, Mary, & Morgan

Dear family of Christopher: Please know Bill and I share your sorrow for the loss of our beautiful Chris. His memory will always be with us and we join you in the celebration of his much to short life.

Love to you,

Vel & Bill

Every evening after our family meal, Chris would pass by my sister and I while he was clearing his plate and thump us soundly on the top of our heads. This would aggravate me to no end, but today I wish he could thump me again……

Chris has always been my hero, my friend, my ultimate role model, my leader. I adore him no matter what he does or says and I always aspire to be just like him. He is my big bro and I think he is one of the most handsome, brightest, creative and fun beings to ever walk this planet. I thank God daily that I have been granted the opportunity to have my life enriched with my familys’ presence and incredible spirit and I look forward with great anticipation to sharing the afterlife with Chris and the rest of my wonderful, beautiful and loving family.

I love you Chris. I will miss you more than anyone can even begin to imagine and I pray that God will watch over each and every one of us until we are all together again. I take comfort in knowing that you are with God and that you are happy, content, that you feel no sadness, hunger or pain and that you now have perfect health and the univeral awareness that you have always sought…

My best friend, my confident, the father of our beautiful child. We have been true a lot togheter. I miss you, I miss your smile…You will always be in my heart. I will always love you.

My heart goes out to all of you. I am so saddened at your loss of Christopher. I remember him and the twins very fondly…as well as the plane ride with Blair so long ago…and wish our families could have been closer through the years. May the good memories and God’s peace sustain you through this very difficult time.

Much love,

Jedda

Blair and Marilyn Rowley

Barbara and Ricky Gleason

Juanita Rowley

Danielle Blair

and Elizabeth and Julie

Dear Family,

I am so sorry for your lose.

I know you will miss the love, the humor, his voice.

He will forever live in your hearts.

I am so very grateful to have had the honor and privilege of knowing some of his family. I hope someday I can meet the rest.

My heart goes out to all of you.

I know Chris was/is a Bright and Shining Star in all of your lives.

God has him now, and you all now have an Angel with you, Chris….

I believe Chris will always be with all of you, especially his baby girl.

I am so sadden for her and all of you.

May God help you to lessen the pain.

It will get better, but never completely.

All of You have been in my thoughts constantly over this period.

Please take care of yourselves.

Sad and Sincere,

Susan Wing

Thanks for the great memories and the laughter. You were a great friend and you will be sorely missed.

Dear Rowley Family,

I wanted to send you some poems that may help you in your grief.

I know reading these myself, has helped me a lot.

I wanted to share them with you and hope that they help you just as much.

….My deepest sympathy to all.

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IN LOVING MEMORY OF

Christopher Blair Rowley

March 11, 1964 – June 02, 2006

“To forget is to deny,

To remember is to survive,

Our memories are their survival”

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AFTER GLOW

I’d like the memory of me to be a happy one.

I’d like to leave an after glow of smiles when life is done.

I’d like to leave an echo whispering softly down the ways,

of happy times and laughing times and bright and sunny days.

I’d like the tears of those who grieve,

to dry before the sun of happy memories that I leave when life is done.

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I AM FREE……

Don’t grieve for me, for now I’m free!

I’m following the path God laid for me.

I took his hand when I heard him call,

I turned my back and left it all.

I could not stay another day,

To laugh, to love, to work or play.

Tasks left undone, must stay that way.

I found peace at close of day.

If my parting has left a void,

Then fill it with remembered joy!

A love shared, a laugh, a kiss

Ah yes! These things I too will miss.

Be not burdened with times of sorrow,

I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.

My life’s been full, I’ve savored much.

Good friends, good times, a loved one’s touch.

Perhaps my time seemed all too brief,

Don’t lengthen it now with undue grief.

Lift up your heart and share with me,

God wanted me now, he set me free!

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A LETTER TO MY FAMILY

To my dearest family, some things I’d like to say.

But first of all to let you know, that I arrived okay.

I’m writing this from Heaven, where I dwell with God above.

Where there are no tears or sadness, there is just eternal love.

Please do not be unhappy, just because I’m out of sight.

Remember that I’m with you, every morning, noon, and night.

That day I had to leave you, when my life on Earth was through,

God picked me up and hugged me, and He said, “I welcome you”.

“It’s good to have you back again, you were missed while you were gone.

As for your dearest family, they’ll be here later on.”

“I need you here so badly, as part of My big plan.

There’s so much that We have to do, to help our mortal man”.

Then God gave me a list of things

He wished for me to do, and foremost on that list of mine, is to watch and care for you.

I will be beside you, every day of the week and year.

And when you’re sad, I’m standing there to wipe away the tear.

And when you lie in bed at night, the days chores put to flight,

God and I are closest to you in the middle of the night.

When you think of my life on Earth, and all those loving years, because you’re only human, there’s bound to be some tears.

Do not be afraid to cry, it does relieve some pain.

Remember, there would be no flowers, without a little rain.

I wish that I could tell you, of all that God has planned.

But if I were to tell you, you would not understand.

One thing is for certain, though my life on Earth is over,

I am closer to you now, than I ever was before.

And to my many friends, trust God knows what is best.

I am not far away from you,

I’m just beyond the crest.

There are rocky roads ahead for you, and many hills that you must climb.

Together we can do it, taking it one day at a time.

It was my philosophy, and I’d like for you too, that is, give unto the World, so the World will give to you.

If you can help someone who’s in sorrow or in pain, then you can say to God at night, my day was not in vain.

And now I am contented that my life, it was worthwhile.

Knowing, as I passed along the way,

I made somebody smile.

When you’re walking down the street, and you’ve got me on your mind,

I’m walking in your footsteps, only half a step behind.

And when you feel a gentle breeze of wind upon your face, that’s me giving you a great big hug, or just a soft embrace.

When it’s time for you to go from that body to be free, remember you are not going, you are coming home to me.

I will always love you, from that place way up above.

I will be in touch again soon,

P.S. God sends his Love.

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“THE DASH BETWEEN THE DATES”

The service was over now,

All had left and I was alone.

I began to read the names and dates chiseled on every stone.

The dates which showed whether it was Mom or Dad,

Daughter or Son.

The dates were different, but the amount the same,

There were two on every one.

It was then I noticed something,

It was but a simple line;

It was the dash between the dates.

Placed there, it stood for time.

All at once it dawned on me

How important that little line.

The dates placed there belong to God,

But that line is yours and mine.

It is God who gives this precious life,

And God who takes away;

But that line between, he gives to us

To do with what we may.

We know that God has written the first date down

Of each and every one,

And we know those hands will write again;

For the last date has to come.

We know He will write the last date down,

And soon, we know, for some.

But upon the line between my dates,

I hope He will write “Well Done.”

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“I’M SPENDING CHRISTMAS WITH JESUS CHRIST THIS YEAR”

I see the countless Christmas trees around the world below,

With tiny lights, like Heaven’s stars, reflecting on the snow.

The sight is so spectacular, please wipe away that tear,

For I’m spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

I hear the many Christmas songs that people hold so dear,

But, the sounds of music can’t compare with the Christmas choir up here.

I have no words to tell you, the joy their voices bring.

For it is beyond description, to hear the angels sing.

I know how much you miss me, I see the pain inside your heart.

Rejoice, For I’m spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

I can’t tell you of the splendor, or the peace here in this place.

Can you just imagine Christmas with our savior face to face?

I’ll ask him to light our spirit as I tell him of your love,

Then pray for one another as you lift your eyes above.

So please let your hearts be joyful and let your spirit sing,

For I’m spending Christmas in heaven and I’m walking with the King!