Dear Floyd -
Elder Reeve and I are serving a mission in the Korea Seoul Mission, but I wanted to send you a message to let you know of a few special memories I have of you. You always had a sweet, kind smile on your face whenever I’d see you at Church or in what our neighborhood in Redmond. The sign said it was the Bellewood North neighborhood. It was a blessing to be your neighbor for a number of years before you moved to Gig Harbor. Some of our children were in the same classes and played together. It was so lovely to move up to this new area of the country in 1980 and have such nice friends close by. We were sad when your family moved, but we were blessed to see you when you and Jeanie came up to wedding receptions or other special events.
There was one place where I saw you often that inspired and set a marvelous example for me. You and Jeanie often came to the Seattle Temple while I was serving as an ordinance worker there on Saturday nights. Your smile radiated the sweet spirit I felt as the two of you walked up to greet me. Even after your memory started being affected, you sometimes would remember my name and greet me as if we were still neighbors. I really enjoyed seeing you as friends, but it was clear that you were there to be with your true friends, Heavenly Father and His son, Jesus Christ. All could see that you LOVE the Temple and gained strength and joy from attending there to be with Them.
Love - Sister Reeve
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Memories of Floyd
General ---
Neighbor and friend Floyd Rowe was a man of courage, faith and kindness. On one occasion in the early 1980s in Redmond, Washington, he willingly came to our house and helped me carry heavy construction materials upstairs, although he had to be careful to protect his back. When someone asked for help, there was no hesitation, and no weary sigh. His concern for others was constantly apparent.
Church service ---
Brother Rowe has been bold in standing for Church guidelines and principles. He advocated and counseled for consideration and balance in Church matters, striving always to be in tune with Church leadership. When he was a counselor to bishop Wilhite, we in the ward could count on Brother Rowe for kindly, brave leadership. When he gave talks, he gave manly, powerful testimony, and used clear, helpful scripture references. We knew we were getting the heart of the matter when he spoke.
Church drama memory ---
In 1983, I was an awkward actor portryaying professor “Harold Hill” in a ward production of excerpts from the musical play “Music Man” by Meredith Willson. Floyd was my main antagonist, an anvil salesman hot on the trail of the slippery band instrument seller whose deceptive antics were making life difficult for other traveling salesmen. Floyd and I never had any conflicts in real life, but on stage, he was the fearful pursuer, and I the scrambling fugitive. He was a convincing actor. I’m glad the play did not call for any personal combat. Offstage, we smiled and had good times reflecing on how we were playing the roles of bitter opponents.
Sports memories
Track --- A man moved into our ward in Redmond, Washington and recognized brother Rowe as a greatly respected track star from his high school in Idaho. Floyd was a powerful runner, and one of the best in the history of Idaho in his events in high school in his day.
Volleyball --- Brother Rowe, with his mountainous and agile son Rick, and other family members were lions on the volleyball court, from reports. This writer has no data from memories of watching the games, but based on reports from other members, Kirkland stake volleyball efforts in the 1980s and possibly 1990s were impacted favorably by members of the strong, quick Rowe family members.
Basketball --- There were some choice happy personal memories of playing on Kirkland First Ward’s adult men basketball team in the early 1980s. Brother Rowe did not claim to be a top-tier basketball player, and he was not usually among the tallest. But he was a great competitor for rebounds, brilliant at going after the ball when it got loose, and a fine passer. He was an assertive scorer. He could make quick moves, and he caused opposing teams many anxious moments. On defense, he was typically quite frustrating for opponents to deal with. He, along with Victor Johansen, Barry Scalise and Richard (Dick) Wood combined talents with other ward brethren to put up some fine performances against truly skillful and imposing teams at times. On one occasion, I was facing away from the basket, holding the ball and trying to do something productive with it. There was a desire to somehow get the ball in the basket, but with very close guarding, I did not know what to do. Then glancing back and seeing Floyd quickly cutting toward the basket in front of a defender, yours truly desperately swerved the ball down in a sudden bounce pass to him. He knew exactly what to do with the ball. My mind was then at ease.
It appeared to me that often times our opponents’ only way to stop Floyd from scoring was to foul him. As I recall, he had marks or bruises on his arms to show this.
Though Floyd had a tremendous competitive drive, he was understanding and patient with teammates whose efforts were somewhat less luminous.
--- Elder ‘Frank’ M. Reeve, Korea Seoul mission
Neighbor and friend Floyd Rowe was a man of courage, faith and kindness. On one occasion in the early 1980s in Redmond, Washington, he willingly came to our house and helped me carry heavy construction materials upstairs, although he had to be careful to protect his back. When someone asked for help, there was no hesitation, and no weary sigh. His concern for others was constantly apparent.
Church service ---
Brother Rowe has been bold in standing for Church guidelines and principles. He advocated and counseled for consideration and balance in Church matters, striving always to be in tune with Church leadership. When he was a counselor to bishop Wilhite, we in the ward could count on Brother Rowe for kindly, brave leadership. When he gave talks, he gave manly, powerful testimony, and used clear, helpful scripture references. We knew we were getting the heart of the matter when he spoke.
Church drama memory ---
In 1983, I was an awkward actor portryaying professor “Harold Hill” in a ward production of excerpts from the musical play “Music Man” by Meredith Willson. Floyd was my main antagonist, an anvil salesman hot on the trail of the slippery band instrument seller whose deceptive antics were making life difficult for other traveling salesmen. Floyd and I never had any conflicts in real life, but on stage, he was the fearful pursuer, and I the scrambling fugitive. He was a convincing actor. I’m glad the play did not call for any personal combat. Offstage, we smiled and had good times reflecing on how we were playing the roles of bitter opponents.
Sports memories
Track --- A man moved into our ward in Redmond, Washington and recognized brother Rowe as a greatly respected track star from his high school in Idaho. Floyd was a powerful runner, and one of the best in the history of Idaho in his events in high school in his day.
Volleyball --- Brother Rowe, with his mountainous and agile son Rick, and other family members were lions on the volleyball court, from reports. This writer has no data from memories of watching the games, but based on reports from other members, Kirkland stake volleyball efforts in the 1980s and possibly 1990s were impacted favorably by members of the strong, quick Rowe family members.
Basketball --- There were some choice happy personal memories of playing on Kirkland First Ward’s adult men basketball team in the early 1980s. Brother Rowe did not claim to be a top-tier basketball player, and he was not usually among the tallest. But he was a great competitor for rebounds, brilliant at going after the ball when it got loose, and a fine passer. He was an assertive scorer. He could make quick moves, and he caused opposing teams many anxious moments. On defense, he was typically quite frustrating for opponents to deal with. He, along with Victor Johansen, Barry Scalise and Richard (Dick) Wood combined talents with other ward brethren to put up some fine performances against truly skillful and imposing teams at times. On one occasion, I was facing away from the basket, holding the ball and trying to do something productive with it. There was a desire to somehow get the ball in the basket, but with very close guarding, I did not know what to do. Then glancing back and seeing Floyd quickly cutting toward the basket in front of a defender, yours truly desperately swerved the ball down in a sudden bounce pass to him. He knew exactly what to do with the ball. My mind was then at ease.
It appeared to me that often times our opponents’ only way to stop Floyd from scoring was to foul him. As I recall, he had marks or bruises on his arms to show this.
Though Floyd had a tremendous competitive drive, he was understanding and patient with teammates whose efforts were somewhat less luminous.
--- Elder ‘Frank’ M. Reeve, Korea Seoul mission
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Status Update
Things are looking much brighter today! My Dad got to come home from the hospital today much sooner than expected. It's such a blessing! Looks like Mom and Dad will be entering a new phase of life in learning how to eat with most of Dad's stomach gone. It should be interesting. So far, the pain stops him soon enough if he tries for too much at once. I think it will be a long process; at least now it will take place in the comfort of their own home rather than a hospital.
The other good news received this week was a re-diagnosis of the type of cancer he has. After the surgery, they did an additional biospy and found that rather than a chondrosarcoma as they originally stated; it was actually a GIST (Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor). They will have follow-up visits with the oncologist at UW some time in the next couple of weeks and we hope to get more information at that time.
Thank you so much for all of your prayers and kind words. The Lord has blessed us with a quicker recovery and better outlook than we had originally hoped for. Thank you all and thank our Father in Heaven for his blessings and support.
The other good news received this week was a re-diagnosis of the type of cancer he has. After the surgery, they did an additional biospy and found that rather than a chondrosarcoma as they originally stated; it was actually a GIST (Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor). They will have follow-up visits with the oncologist at UW some time in the next couple of weeks and we hope to get more information at that time.
Thank you so much for all of your prayers and kind words. The Lord has blessed us with a quicker recovery and better outlook than we had originally hoped for. Thank you all and thank our Father in Heaven for his blessings and support.
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