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Funeral Services for Mr. Donald R. "Donnie" Rowland, 72, of Milburn, Oklahoma will be held on Saturday, March 18, 2017 at 11:00 a. m. at the First Baptist Church in Tishomingo, Oklahoma with Rev. Laverne Stinson officiating. Interment will follow in the Condon Grove Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Friday evening from 6-8 pm at the funeral home. Donald Ray Rowland was born in Durant, Oklahoma on August 23, 1944, to Almon and Fern (Needham) Rowland. He lived for almost 70 years on the family farm in Milburn, Oklahoma, before his declining health necessitated a move. He passed peacefully in his room at Blue River Healthcare in Tishomingo, Oklahoma, on March 15, 2017, with family members by his side. Donnie was a 1961 graduate of Milburn High School in Milburn, Oklahoma. He graduated from Southeastern Oklahoma State University in 1965 with a double major in mathematics and science. That same year he married the love of his life and wife of 51 years, Verna Jean (Cauthron) Rowland, in Fanshawe, Oklahoma. Donnie joined the Oklahoma Army National Guard in September 1968 and continued serving until June 1974, when he was honorably discharged at the rank of SSG. Donnie’s career in education began with teaching math and science at Coleman High School in Coleman, Oklahoma, where he stayed for 10 years. In 1975, Donnie began teaching 5th grade math at Tishomingo Middle School in Tishomingo, Oklahoma. He went on to graduate with a Master’s Degree in Counseling from Southeastern Oklahoma State University and transitioned to become the Counselor at Tishomingo Memorial Elementary and Middle Schools. Donnie later obtained his Administration Certificate from the University of Tulsa and served as elementary principal at Tishomingo Memorial Elementary School for several years before becoming Director of Special Services for Tishomingo Public Schools. He retired in 1995, after spending 30 years in education, to work on the family farm. The last few years of his active life, Donnie enjoyed operating Blue River Hunting Adventures, providing guided hunts for quail, pheasant, and chucker. Donnie loved kids, education, hunting, fishing, farming, guns, and family…especially his four grandchildren. He made the most of his time with them, teaching them to love the outdoors and all that God created. Of utmost importance to Donnie was for his children and grandchildren to know Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior, which he got to see come to fruition. Donnie was a devout Christian, an active Gideon, and a deacon at Milburn First Baptist Church and Tishomingo First Baptist Church. He was also a board member and president of Counseling, Inc., based in Johnston County. Anyone who spent much time around Donnie knew that he loved to laugh and make others laugh. He was often known to pull off a practical joke or a make a comment that would lighten up the most awkward of moments. He had an infectious laugh and gave great hugs. Donnie was preceded in death by his parents. Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Jean of the home; two children, Scott Rowland and wife Tami of Pryor, Oklahoma, and Latricia (Rowland) Pack and husband Chuck of Tahlequah, Oklahoma; four grandchildren, Christopher Rowland, Nicholas Rowland, Mason Pack, and Morgan Pack; a brother, James Rowland and wife Glenda of Milburn, Oklahoma; numerous church family members; and many other dear family and friends. Casket Bearers for the service will be: Vernon Hurst, George Johnson, Donald McDaniel, Rick Orr, Rick Needham and Ronald Needham. Honorary Bearers will be: George Reid, Clayton Pryor, Edd Clary, Rex Lokey, and Ferman Rowland. Donald Ray Rowland was born in Durant, Oklahoma on August 23, 1944, to Almon and Fern (Needham) Rowland. He lived for almost 70 years on the family farm in Milburn, Oklahoma, before his declining health necessitated a move. He passed peacefully in his room at Blue River Healthcare in Tishomingo, Oklahoma, on March 15, 2017, with family members by his side. Donnie was a 1961 graduate of Milburn High School in Milburn, Oklahoma. He graduated from Southeastern Oklahoma State University in 1965 with a double major in mathematics and science. That same year he married the love of his life and wife of 51 years, Verna Jean (Cauthron) Rowland, in Fanshawe, Oklahoma. Donnie joined the Oklahoma Army National Guard in September 1968 and continued serving until June 1974, when he was honorably discharged at the rank of SSG. Donnie’s career in education began with teaching math and science at Coleman High School in Coleman, Oklahoma, where he stayed for 10 years. In 1975, Donnie began teaching 5th grade math at Tishomingo Middle School in Tishomingo, Oklahoma. He went on to graduate with a Master’s Degree in Counseling from Southeastern Oklahoma State University and transitioned to become the Counselor at Tishomingo Memorial Elementary and Middle Schools. Donnie later obtained his Administration Certificate from the University of Tulsa and served as elementary principal at Tishomingo Memorial Elementary School for several years before becoming Director of Special Services for Tishomingo Public Schools. He retired in 1995, after spending 30 years in education, to work on the family farm. The last few years of his active life, Donnie enjoyed operating Blue River Hunting Adventures, providing guided hunts for quail, pheasant, and chucker. Donnie loved kids, education, hunting, fishing, farming, guns, and family…especially his four grandchildren. He made the most of his time with them, teaching them to love the outdoors and all that God created. Of utmost importance to Donnie was for his children and grandchildren to know Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior, which he got to see come to fruition. Donnie was a devout Christian, an active Gideon, and a deacon at Milburn First Baptist Church and Tishomingo First Baptist Church. He was also a board member and president of Counseling, Inc., based in Johnston County. Anyone who spent much time around Donnie knew that he loved to laugh and make others laugh. He was often known to pull off a practical joke or a make a comment that would lighten up the most awkward of moments. He had an infectious laugh and gave great hugs. Donnie was preceded in death by his parents. Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Jean of the home; two children, Scott Rowland and wife Tami of Pryor, Oklahoma, and Latricia (Rowland) Pack and husband Chuck of Tahlequah, Oklahoma; four grandchildren, Christopher Rowland, Nicholas Rowland, Mason Pack, and Morgan Pack; a brother, James Rowland and wife Glenda of Milburn, Oklahoma; numerous church family members; and many other dear family and friends. Casket Bearers for the service will be: Vernon Hurst, George Johnson, Donald McDaniel, Rick Orr, Rick Needham and Ronald Needham. Honorary Bearers will be: George Reid, Clayton Pryor, Edd Clary, Rex Lokey, and Ferman Rowland.

Tributes

Donald Ray 'Donnie' Rowland

August 23, 1944 - March 15, 2017