Mary Ellen Rowe

Mary Ellyn (Dobb) Rowe of Long Beach, CA, passed away on Sunday, November 27, 2016, at home surrounded by her four sons, family and care-givers, after a long illness.

Born in Muskegon, MI, on July 2, 1929 to John and Jean Dobb, Mary was a great student and athlete; she went on to graduate from Muskegon Community College and from Western Michigan State University in 1951.

Thereafter, she taught in MI for two years, adventured to AK to teach for a year, and continued her teaching for in Long Beach for 34 years, totaling 37 years, mostly second graders and some third graders. She retired in 1995.

She was very kind and loving finding great enjoyment in encouraging everyone she met. We remember her laughter, teasing and pranks. She was devoted to attending her sons sporting events and important occasions. In her childhood and youth, she enjoyed school, friends, summer camp, singing, flowers, birding, and softball, always loving the sciences. Later, as a voracious reader of mystery paperback books (Agatha Christie, Louis L'Amour, Sue Grafton, etc.), she would swap them out with her girlfriends. She enjoyed movies, music, musicals, traveling to visit relatives, sports, and dining out with husband Edward "Bud" Rowe, friends, sons and grandchildren. She would drive hundreds of miles to see her grandchildren and a particular talent was that of sending many, many encouraging cards and notes to family, grandchildren, friends.

She was predeceased by husband Edward "Bud" Rowe, to whom she was married for 53 years and is survived by sons John (Sheryl), Daniel, Christopher (Patti) and Michael (Annette), and five grandchildren, Michael, Alyssa, Heather, Sarah and Patrick.

In lieu of flowers, please make memorial contributions to the Alzheimer's Association at www.alz.org.

Luyben Dilday Mortuary (562) 425-6401