Mary June Rowe

Mary June (Baker) Rowe was born on July 11, 1933 in Lutz, Florida. She left us peacefully in her sleep in the wee hours of June 1, 2019. Mary June was one of seven children born to Otho and Katherine Baker. The Baker family moved to Anderson in 1935. Mary June was a 1952 graduate of St. Mary’s High School and while in school she played the organ at Mass on many Sundays. In 1954 she married Jimmie E. Rowe, a loving partnership that endured until Jimmie’s passing in 2008. They had one son, Michael, who is forever grateful for the incredible blessing of having been raised and always loved by what he considers the most wonderful parents God ever created. Around 1967 or so, Mary June began doing volunteer work at St. Mary’s. She eventually was hired to serve as the church secretary, a position she held for approximately fifteen years. Mary June loved to sing, dance and generally take delight in living her life, and she and Jimmie greatly enjoyed singing (and harmonizing) together. She was the touchstone of our entire family. Up until the past few years, she had an amazing memory and kept in contact with everyone, always contacting the members of our extended family by phone on their respective birthdays. Holiday dinners for the extended family were always a time for celebration at Mary June and Jimmie’s house. Those of us who remain dearly treasure the memory of those days and all those who were present then but have since left us. Mary June truly loved, and was loved by, her family and many friends. Mary June was preceded in death by her husband Jimmie Rowe, her parents Katherine and Otho Baker, her sister Betty Tait; and her brothers Otho Jr., Allan Mark and Gerald. She is survived by her son Michael and his wife Susan (Smith) of Coarsegold, CA; two loving and devoted sisters, Marilyn Baker and Carol Stelter; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday, June 7 at Brown-Butz-Diedring Funeral Service & Crematory with Monsignor Robert Sell, III officiating. Burial will be at East Maplewood Cemetery. Visitation will be from noon until the time of services at the funeral home.