Martha Jane Rowe-Morrill

MARTHA J. ROWE

December 30, 1929 - June 3, 2022

Martha (Marty) J. (Richter) Rowe, age 92, passed away peacefully in her sleep on June 3, 2022, in her daughter’s home in Boulder, Colorado. Martha was born on December 30, 1929, in Pollock, Louisiana, to Carl Emil Richter and Frieda Mathilde (Weber) Richter. Martha was one of five children and grew up on the Richter family dairy and orchard farm just outside of Willow Springs, Missouri. After graduating high school, Martha attended Southwest Missouri State in Springfield, Missouri. On August 10, 1947, she married Hilton L. Rowe, and together they raised their family in Columbia, Missouri. To this union, one son and one daughter were born. Martha worked for over 10 years in the Sears, Roebuck & Co. credit department in Columbia, Missouri. In 1969, the family made the life-changing decision to move to Boulder, Colorado. This decision proved to be too much of a challenge for Martha’s husband, Hilton, who moved back to Missouri. Martha and Hilton divorced in 1974. Martha married Gilbert B. Morrill in May 1981. Martha thrived in Boulder, Colorado, working first for Credit Bureau of Boulder, then United Bank of Boulder for 12 years, then joined ReMax Advantage in Louisville, Colorado. Martha earned countless awards for being one of the top ReMax sales associates for many years, retiring from ReMax in the late 1990’s. Martha and Gilbert did property management together until 2002. Martha also volunteered numerous years with Zonta Club and The Salvation Army. When the Richter family farm in Missouri was sold, an error was made by the title company, and Martha and her sister were deeded 29 acres. Martha purchased her sister’s half and set out to restore the original farmhouse. After an unexpected fire burned the original farmhouse (by a construction worker), Martha moved a house (previously the Chamber of Commerce) from Willow Springs, Missouri, and made a second home which she and Gilbert enjoyed visiting often. Martha always looked amazing in her choice of styles, tailoring her own clothes to accentuate her tiny waist, and hair that always looked perfect. Martha and Gilbert were very social and loved ballroom and square dancing and going to the theater. Martha loved gardening (a huge vegetable garden every year), cooking and canning (the best cook ever without recipes), tennis, and traveling in their 5th wheel – but, truly her passion in this life was her family, ensuring family was taken care of, and making sure every gathering and holiday was special with so many creative touches. Martha was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband, Hilton L. Rowe in 2007, her second husband, Gilbert B. Morrill in 2017; her brothers, Curt E. Richter of Willow Springs, Missouri, William E. Richter of Willow Springs, Missouri, and Carl E. Richter of Warrensburg, Missouri; her sister Ora F. Chervek of Springfield, Missouri; her granddaughter, Laurinda Sue Rice of Murphys, California; her son, Cary G. Rowe of Broomfield, Colorado; and Gilbert’s daughter, Janet Morrill of Los Molinos, California. Martha is survived by her daughter, Brenda Rowe-Bricker (Mark), Boulder, Colorado, Gilbert’s daughter, Diane Englerth of Panama, Gilbert’s son, Glenn Morrill (Gaye) of Loveland, Colorado, six grandchildren, and eight great grandchildren. Interment was at Fort Logan National Cemetery, Denver, Colorado, with beloved husband Gilbert.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.cristmortuary.com for the Rowe-Morrill family.