Roosevelt Rowry

Roosevelt Rowry, Sr., fondly known as “Rosey,” made his transition to his heavenly home on November 5, 2018. He was born on May 19, 1939 in Leland, Mississippi, to the late Reverend Hubert Rowry and Annie Belle Ivy. His parents and siblings: JC, Moses, Elijah, Peter, Ezra, Jeremiah, Ruth, Pearline and Ida, all preceded him in death. Only one sibling survives, Herbert Rowry of Buena Park, California.

Rosey moved to Ypsilanti, Michigan at eight years of age along with his mother and four siblings. Because of their mutual Pentecostal roots in the Church of God in Christ, they resided with the Frye family of Ypsilanti until his older siblings found the family a home in Ann Arbor. At age fifteen, he met and eventually began dating Dianna Thomas while attending Ann Arbor High School. Rosey would succeed as a football player, as well as participate in other sports, while Dianna cheered him on from the sidelines. The teen romance blossomed, culminating with their marriage on November 17, 1962. They were married for thirty-six years and had four children, three of whom are still living.

After his graduation in 1958, he enrolled at the Michigan Barber School in Detroit Michigan, where he would eventually receive his barber’s certificate and become licensed through the State of Michigan. From 1965 until 1972, he worked for both Johnnie Rush and the late J.D. Hall, before opening Rosey’s Hair Styling Den in 1972. Rosey was a hard worker, and wished to provide well for his family, which included gifting his children with an education. He valued every customer not only for who they were and the relationship that he shared with them, but for what their patronage brought to his family. Rosey exemplified the role embraced by men of his generation and articulated by the apostle Paul, “if you don’t work, you don’t eat” (2 Thess 3:10, CEV).

Rosey was athletic, possessed a competitor’s heart, and was a team player. He was featured in many sport sections of the local newspaper while playing football for Ann Arbor High. With comments such as “Rowry Booms Along” and “the powerful Rowry just kept plugging until he and his harriers wound up in a pile in the end zone!” In the late seventies, when Rosey led the dynamic golf four-some, a.k.a. “Rowry’s Bunch,” they were featured often in the newspaper, for maintaining a substantial lead in the Municipal Golf League. Those who knew him, knew that Rosey fought to win for the love of the game and the reward of the “skins!”

Rosey, was preceded in death by his beloved infant daughter, Teresa Kay Rowry. He leaves to cherish his legacy his brother, Herbert (Doris) Rowry of Buena Park, California, his children, Roosevelt Rowry Jr, of Ann Arbor, MI, Dana Rochelle Rowry, of Ypsilanti, MI and Ricco Thomas (Theresa) Rowry of Farmington Hills, MI; his grandsons, Lathan Thomas Rowry and Eian Peylar Rowry, a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, two sisters-in-law, Mary Helen Rowry and Margaret Rowry, and his very loyal and life-long friends, Dianna Rowry, Claude Baker, Dick Stuber, John Hardin, Ronald Officer and Curtis T. Howard.

Let it be known, that in his last days, Rosey did not lose his battle with cancer, instead, he surrendered his strong will to live to God; the Author and Perfecter of his faith! #2Corinthians12:9-10

A Celebration of Life has been planned for Saturday, November 17, 2018, with the family hour beginning at 10 a.m. until the hour of service at 12 noon. The family hour, service and repast will take place at Second Baptist Church, 850 Red Oak, Ann Arbor, MI, Dr. Steven J. Daniels, officiating. Internment to take place at Forest Hill Cemetery, 415 Observatory St., Ann Arbor, MI.