James Charles Rowell

ROWELL, James Charles, 47, of Tampa passed away on March 1, 2019. Born and raised in Gautier, Mississippi; Jamie had been a Tampa Bay resident for the past 6 years. He loved Florida wildlife. Recently, he was working with a friend to develop an alligator rescue call Swim Faster Alligator Farm. Survivors include his loving wife of 17 years, Christy; children, Justin and Shane Rowell, both of Alabama and Kerstin and Nicholas, both of Washington; his mother, Lynn Harris and husband Butch of Alabama; Sister, Rebecca Dotson; grandchildren, Ember and Jakkoby; his father-in-law, Craig Buttrill and wife Dulce; mother-in-law, Connie Buttrill, sister-in-law, Cindy Butrill; and many other extended family members and friends. Family will receive friends from 6-8pm on Monday, March 4 at the Blount & Curry, Oldsmar West Hillsborough Chapel, 6802 Silvermill Drive, Tampa. A funeral service will be held at 1pm on Tuesday, March 5 at the funeral home followed by procession to Sylvan Abbey Memorial Park, Clearwater. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Rugaz Rescue (http://www.rugazrescue.com/) who specialize in rescuing Pit Bulls.

James Rowell is a good man. He touched our live in ways we did not expect.

Jamie was not your average guy; that in fact became known to you when you first meet him.

His sense of humor was unique. His range of interests and skills ran wide and deep.

He never tried to impress you with what he knew, but he was always there to help, if you needed him, as long as you tried too.

He liked to laugh and share time with people he cared about and he found the time for each of us.

He took care of us with his actions.

He was not the type to tell you what to do and then not help. The only exception to this was if he didn’t like you and, in that case, he had no problem telling you what to do.

Jamie did not live a long life but he did live a full life. He used to say “All I ever wanted was a chance”. He never wasted a chance to make life better for his family. He pulled himself up by his own boot straps and with hard work, he and Christy created a good life together. He was proud of their accomplishments.

He was a man that got to live his dream…Having an alligator farm is not every man’s dream but Christy stood by her man.

Recently, they bought property. He and his friend, Richard, worked clearing land and planning what would go where. He worked on his dream as recently as his birthday, February 28th.

Jamie died the morning of March 1st surrounded by everything that meant the most to him.

He crossed a bridge we will all cross one day. He crossed it at home, happy with his life and the woman he loved; proud and content with what they had accomplished together. He died knowing he was much loved. He was in a place he loved, surrounded by the things he cared most about.

God took him fast; he was not sick. He lived until he died. I think he would wish the same or us or tell us…….Swim Faster.

Jamie, we love you and we will miss you in our lives.