Jennie "Dee" Rowland

MARION -- Jennie "Dee" Rowland, 79, passed away at 6:04 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16, 2013, at her home with family by her side. Services will be at 11 a.m. today, Feb. 20, in Blue Funeral Home in Marion, with the Rev. Benny Murphy officiating. Interment will be in Rose Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. today at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to National Kidney Foundationor Shriner's Burn Center for Children. Envelopes are available at the funeral home or may be sent c/o Blue Funeral Home, P.O. Box 411, Marion, IL 62959. Dee was born Nov. 1, 1933, in Stager to Clarence and Margaret (Cady) Bray. She married Robert W. Rowland on July 27, 1957. He preceded her in death March 5, 1991, after nearly 34 years of marriage. Survivors include her children, Dale R. and Toni Rowland of Chicago Heights, Cyndi and Charles E. Ketring II of Marion, and Lorie and Daniel Elsasser of Carbondale; grandchildren, Jessica Rowland, Joshua Rowland, Shannon and Dustin Throgmorton, Ian and Jo Anna Robertson, Aubree Ketring and Cierra Dawes; great-grandchildren, Caleb, Jacob, Nicholas and Eva; sisters, Connie Epley and Mary Ruth Fries, both of Glenwood; brothers-in-law, James and Linda Rowland of Bardwell, Ky., T.J. Hill of Mountain Home, Ark., Joy and Phil Deemer of Warren, Ind., Phil and Pris Rowland of Henderson, Ky., and Diania and Ben Murphy of Wise, Va.; and several nieces and nephews. Dee was preceded in death by her parents; husband; and brothers, Eugene Bray, James Bray and Cecil Bray. Mrs. Rowland worked for several years in the food service industry. Most recently she had retired from The H-Group in Marion after 20 years as a house manager. Her most important job and accomplishment were being a wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, mentor and friend. She loved to entertain and cook for her large family and extensive group of friends. Dee was a gifted artist, most notably playing classical piano. She was a Christian woman, serving her Lord to the end. Her memory shall live on in the hearts of those she touched throughout her many years. She will be missed by those who knew and loved her.