Ferol Ann Rowe

SARCASM WARNING: When the family got the sarcasm gene, the pump broke and excessive amounts of genetic sarcasm was injected into us. Sarcasm is our natural language and a natural and automatic go to in our family.

She was poofed into existence on Sept 11, 1947 in Alameda, CA. She was named after her great aunt who married into the Ghirardelli family, in hopes to be included in the will. She lived in the San Francisco Bay area for most of her youngling life. She was later joined by her twin brothers Matthew Joel (Old Fart) and Michael Jay (Fat Boy) and then Linda (Brat).

Like all dysfunctional families, there were issues and when Ferol turned 16, she apparated out of the home and landed with a foster family. She graduated high school from Hayward High School (or was it Wayward High School) in Hayward, CA. Shortly after graduating, she created Dannis Patrick (Dan) who she raised as a single mother (witch) while living in Lake Tahoe and the Bay Area. She then moved to Indianapolis for a short time and then moved back to San Leandro area where she hatched Ryan Mitchell. She gave Ryan up for adoption at that time. Ryan always claimed to be found under a rock on the dark side of the moon that the astronauts were told not to turn over. Shortly after that, lying about her age, she started working as a stripper. She was once arrested shortly after she turned 21. The judge threw it out because she had been wearing 3 pieces of scotch tape and the judge was in the front row the next week and became her biggest tipper.

Soon after, she moved to Illinois and began working at the Zenith factory. While living in Paris, IL she met Benjamin (Bennie) Rowe. Soon they were married, by the same judge that had just sentenced Bennie to probation for public intoxication. Unfortunately, Ferol had to give Dan up for adoption. She always regretted this decision. To this marriage came Leah Ann and Benjamin Trevor. Like life, there were good times and bad times. Sometimes worrying about where the next meal would come from or how to pay a bill. But with Bennie by her side, they made things work. She lost Bennie in 1997 shortly before their 27th anniversary.

Once again, the brick wall of life hit and she packed up her broom and appeared in Louisville, KY to be near her siblings. While living there and struggling, she started working with Community Living and eventually working with Michael Godwin as his in-home nurse with Apple Patch in Crestwood, KY. While working for Michael for 15 years, they clicked and formed a very intense bond. Ferol was always worried about Michael even after she stopped taking care of him because he is a special soul that saved her at a rough time in life. She considered him a member of her chosen family.

In 2013, Ryan was return to sender on Mother’s Day. Shortly after that Ferol had to consider retiring from working with Michael due to health issues. In 2014, Ferol moved to Centreville, VA to live with Ryan. Shortly after that, she moved with Ryan to New Mexico for a new job and adventure. Because she was afraid of heights and claustrophobic, (she never flew higher than 4 feet) she took a train ride from Washington DC to Albuquerque, NM. While in a layover in Chicago, she got to see Leah and Trevor and family. That made the trip extra special. She never told them that, but she was extremely happy to see them. She decided at that time it was an excellent adventure riding the train.

While in Louisville and New Mexico, she would go to bingo on a regular basis. She was an avid player since the age of 4 (thanks great grandma Hasha!) and loved to play cuss the caller. She also always threated to hit people with her cane if they didn’t do her right. After the move to New Mexico, life was good except those damn body issues. Since she couldn’t strip anymore, she turned to brews. The only brew that actually worked for her was morphine in L2 and L3. In late 2018, Dan flew back into her life as he and Ryan had done a 23 and Me genetic test.

One of the greatest lessons she learned toward the end was learning to be happy. She found happiness wasn’t in winning bingo or anything like that. It was in having friends and family around. The last week of her life was spent with all her children. She actually passed away with a peaceful and happy look on her face. So, let all the Proctor/Rowe munchkins proclaim that Ding Dong the Wicked Witch is dead!

Some of the lessons of life for her was that if she didn’t like it, then stick out your tongue. If you hate it then respond with sarcasm. If you like it, respond with sarcasm. If you love it, do whatever you can to hold onto it and respond with sarcasm.

Ferol left the following munchkins to include her extremely sarcastic children Dan (Kimberly) West of Stafford, VA, Ryan Proctor of Albuquerque, NM, Leah Milligan of Paoli, IN and Trevor (Kristi) Rowe of Wausau, WI. She has plenty of grand witchlings both genetic and non genetic. They were all family in her eyes. She also had 1 great grand witchling and 2 great-grand witchlings, as well as nieces and nephews going to the grand level. Chosen family members include Michael Godwin, Brandon Balkovich, Ian Baldwin and Chris Archuleta. There were many others that were apart of the family as well. Family was more than blood, it included close friends.

Spirits that blazed the trail for her are her beloved grandparents, her husband, a grandson Jaden, several pets as well as the fuzzbutts (ferrets) Jazz and Gizmo, who share her love of coffee and chocolate.

A Celebration will be held on her birthday Sept 11, 2019 at the chapel in Crestwood, KY at Pillar, formerly Apple Patch. The request is that you wear an outrageous hat because she loved Hat Day for the Kentucky Derby. More information will be posted as time gets closer.

A lottery was going to be held to see who got the push the button for the cremation, but Uncle Old Fart wanted to buy all the tickets so that got thrown out. So instead a cremation will be in Albuquerque, NM through the Neptune Society and burial will be in Paris, IL with her beloved husband Bennie.

The family would like to thank Uptown Rehab in Albuquerque, NM and Hospice of New Mexico for their support and care. In lieu of flowers, we request that a donation be made in her name to Service Dogs of New Mexico, 17 Bus Lane, Sandia Park, NM 87047 or at their website: https://servicedogsnm.org/donations/.