H.L. "Jay" Rowe

H.L. (JAY) ROWE Herman Lamar (Jay) Rowe was born on Dec. 11, 1924, to Herman Carl & Edna Rowe in Fruita Co. He passed away on Dec 15th. 2016 at Rose Memorial hospital in Denver Co. of heart failure at the age of 92. He was one of 3 sons. LaVern, Jay, & Ben. He went through his childhood & early adult years until he was 20, being called Jay. He didn't know that his legal name was Herman Lamar Rowe. His mother was going to name him Jay Lamar Rowe, as was agreed upon. But when Jay was born & the Dr. was cleaning him up he asked Jay's dad what he was going to be named & Mr. Rowe replied Herman Lamar Rowe without Jay's mom knowing this. Thus he went through his early years being called Jay. It was not discovered his real name was not Jay until a birth certificate was required when he was applying for a job in Los Angles, CA at the age of 20. He had filled out all the paper work for the job signing Jay, but a birth certificate was required. He got ahold of his mom in Fruita and had it sent. That's when he learned his legal name was not Jay. He had to call his mom to find out what the deal was. Until this time his mom did not know his real name was not Jay. He had to get his Social Security card & his Driver's license changed. Jay's parents got divorced when he was 5. His mother took a job as a housekeeper & caregiver to 2 bachelor brothers dad on a big ranch at Mack, Co. owned by the Deacons. Edna worked there with her 3 sons Ben, Jay & LaVern. After Mr. Deacon died, she continued to stay there on the ranch, for Clarence & Walt Deacon, until the boys were grown & gone. During this time is when Jay acquired his love for the livestock industry. He punched cows for several big ranches at Green River, UT, Mack, Rangeley & Meeker, CO. In 1946, he met the love of his life, at a barn dance in Fruita, CO. A city girl, Lucile Norma Bratton, 19 years old, fresh out of high school. They were married 2 months later. Jay continued cowboying until Jan. 1947. It was at this time that he went to work for the Colorado State Brand Board Department. For 3 months he worked in the Denver Stock Yards. In Feb. 1948 their 1st son Alan was born. He was then transferred to Pueblo to work as a Brand Inspector there until Sept. 1961. During this time a 2nd son, Byrun was born in Feb, 1956. In Sept. 1961 Jay was promoted to Assistant State Brand Commissioner and the family moved back to Denver. Jay was inside in a office all the time with 6 women and he did not like that. In August of 1962, Jay took a cut in pay to go back to work in the country. Stockmen wanted him to come back to Pueblo, where they had to hire 2 men to replace him when he left. But Jay wanted to go back to the Western Slope, thus when Cortez came up the Rowe family moved to Cortez in late August 1962 just as school was starting. In the fall of 1972, Jay & Lucile again moved to Denver, where he became the Colorado State Brand Commissioner until his retirement in Aug. 1988. Speaking of brands Jay use to say "If they are worth owning, they are worth putting your return address on." Jay loved his job & dedicated his life to it. He would say "If it's right it's right and if it's wrong it's wrong" He was preceeded in death by his wife Lucile Rowe, by his youngest son Byrun Rowe, by his older brother LaVern and wife Martha Rowe, by his younger brother Ben and wife Marylou Rowe, by 3 step brothers & 1 step sister by his dad's 2nd marriage. Carl, Henry, Clyde & Billie. Jay is survived by son Alan & wife Rickie, grand sons Shannon Lane and wife Missy, Shelby Lee and Stephanie of Arriola, 2 grand daughters, Tracy of Grand Junction, CO. & Cassy of California. 8 great grand children, 4 great great grandchildren & numerous nieces and nephews. He will be greatly missed by all. Graveside inurnment services will be on Wednesday, January 4, 2017 at 10:00 A.M. at the Arriola Cemetery.