Norma Rhea Rowlette

Published 4:24 pm Wednesday, October 9, 2019

Norma Rhea Rowlette, 82, passed away peacefully October 1, 2019, in Riverview, Fla. She was born January 26, 1937 in Elizabethton, Tenn., to John and Flora Edens. She was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Judy Britt; two brothers, Richard Edens and Roy Edens; and her second son, Christopher Rowlette.
Norma worked at the Raytheon Corporation as a young woman, managed all the cleaning services at a resort hotel on Kauai, Hawaii, and eventually owned her own bed and breakfast on the same island after all her children left the nest. Her passion as a host kept the bed and breakfast filled most days of the year.
Her life was a living example of the Bible verse, Hebrews 13:2 — “Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.”
Norma loved to spoil her grandchildren and receive guests in her home. She collected dolls and many other antiques and treasures. Her mind was sharp and she rarely missed the smallest detail. She danced hula in her younger years while living in Hawaii and was a master cook of all foods, but especially biscuits and gravy, teriyaki beef, and “chow-chow.” She loved Hawaiian music and gospel country music, especially the music of The Statler Brothers.
Norma is survived by her brother-in-law, Tyler Britt; her sister-in-law, Zella Edens; her oldest son, Bobby Bowling; her daughter-in-law, Lisa Rowlette, her youngest son and his wife, Philip and Holly Rowlette; grandchildren, Todd Bowling, Matt Bowling, Nicole Rowlette, Corwin Rowlette, Grant Rowlette, Peter Rowlette and Grace Rowlette; plus her many nephews and nieces. All of these she loved and missed dearly as her health deteriorated.
A graveside service to celebrate her life will be held Saturday, October 12, at 10 a.m. at Happy Valley Memorial Park, 2708 Elizabethton Hwy., Johnson City. In lieu of flowers, you may donate to help wounded veterans at www.woundedwarriorproject.org. Condolences and memories may be shared with the Rowlette family by visiting www.montevistafunerals.com.
Arrangements especially for Mrs. Rowlette and her family have been made through Monte Vista Funeral Home & Memorial Park, 1900 E. Oakland Avenue, Johnson City, TN (423) 282-2631.