James Lee Rowton, Sr
December 2, 1932 – December 15, 2020
Reverend James Lee Rowton, Sr. stepped into the portals of glory on Tuesday, December 15, 2020, at the age of 88 years and 13 days. He was born on December 2, 1932, in Okesa, Oklahoma, to Linnie (Stammer) Rowton and Robert Richard Rowton, and was raised on the family farm in Osage County. His unprecedented work ethic started at an early age and continued throughout his life. At nine years of age he was milking cows and driving horses on the farm.
Every task he did was done with excellence. He graduated as valedictorian of his class from Nelagoney High School in May of 1951. As an exceptional athlete, James Lee Rowton excelled in baseball and basketball but abandoned his quest to be the best on the court to sell out to Jesus.
James was saved in a brush arbor meeting in the fall of 1950, and started attending Southwestern Assembly of God College in Waxahachie, Texas in the fall of 1951. There he met and later married Mary Mae Peppard of Canyon, Texas, on March 26, 1954. He pastored churches in Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas and New Mexico. He was involved in full-time evangelistic work from coast to coast in over 500 churches, from August, 1977, until shortly before his death.
James Lee Rowton, Sr. was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Mary, his brothers, Tom, Ray and Russell, and his sister, Carolyn, as well as a daughter, Elizabeth. He is survived by one brother, Robert, of Ft. Smith, Arkansas; a son and daughter-in-law, James Lee Rowton, Jr. and Lindy of Edmond; a daughter and son-in-law, Nancy and Brian Smith of McAlester; eight grandchildren, Brooke Ferris, Joshua and Caleb Rowton, Lacy (Smith) Hensley, Lindsey (Smith) Eidson, Brian Smith II, Lauren (Smith) Houck, and Brice Smith; eleven great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, and a vast number of lifelong friends.
He will be remembered as a walking Bible, a generous giver, an avid soul winner, and a lover of people. May his legacy live on is us all!
A formal visitation will be held with family to greet friends from 4:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. on Sunday, December 20 at Matthews Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at Bethesda Assembly of God on Monday, December 21 at 2:00 P.M. with interment to follow at Resthaven Cemetery.
We are thanking the Lord for the friendship we had with Jim and Mary. He had such a tenacity for preaching the gospel. We will miss his visits when he was in our area. Jimmy, Nancy and all family, we pray the Holy Spirit is Comforting you and will give you strength in the coming days.
Reverend James Rowton,
So much could be said about this man of God! He was more a member of our family than just being a friend! This man would pray for our family everyday and I know his prayers helped us all through many rough times! I know last January he was praying for my brother, sister in law and myself because we all had health issues and he prayed for us and I believe he prayed many days for us as we continued to improve and God heard his prayers and we are so very thankful for his love and prayers for us! What a precious man of God he was and Thankful that all those years ago he became our friend/family! Those prayers got us through so many issues in life and not once did he judge us but prayed for God to touch our broken and sick bodies and prayed for our Parents as well and called them to check on them and pray for them on many occaisions!
My most favorite moment is when Dad was recognized for his 50 years of preaching the word for the Assemblies of God and we had a picture taken with him and what a great preacher and servant of God he was! Bible in hand and praising God ever step of the way. He was like a member of our family and will be greatly missed! Prayers of comfort and peace for the Rowton family during this time of loss! Love and prayers to you all!
I will send a print of the picture with mom and dad and they give it to you at the funeral!
Jim truly blessed our family every time he would visit us in Okesa. We loved him dearly. We have appreciated those in the family who reached out to us. We will miss our visits with him. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Though Jim is not here with us physically. He will always be with us in those sweet,sweet memories of his life shared with us.
From the first time I met him as a kid, Bro. Rowton was always larger than life and someone for whom I had the utmost respect. He had such a booming voice that you couldn’t help but listen. That same voice was a source of comfort and ready with a kind word. I always enjoyed our visits and knew when he said “I’m praying for you Bro. Jeff”, he meant it. There’s not a doubt in my mind heaven knew the minute Bro. Rowton arrived.
I have known Jim pretty much all of my life and he lived a great legacy and will truly be missed here at YAG in Yale Ok