Ted "Rocky" Ruben Rowzee

Ted “Rocky” Ruben Rowzee, 65, of Mississippi passed away on Thursday, December 17, 2021. The immediate family will celebrate his life with a closed-memorial service at 2 PM Wednesday, December 22, 2021 at First Presbyterian Church, 1100 S Harrison, Amarillo, TX.  Mr. Jackson Latimer, a dear friend to the family, will be officiating. A gifted musician, Rocky had a masterful way of performing a perfectly pitched tune from most any instrument he set his hand to. The saxophone, piano, and flute spring to mind. But his first love, known to all, was his French horn. Rocky’s mother, Dorothy, moved the family to Union, MS, to be near relatives when he was in the fifth-grade. It was always with much affection he would refer to Union as home, with County Line Baptist his church home. The James Earl Smith family “down the hill” were the best neighbors a guy could hope for.  Many a time he was invited to pull up a chair to the small table set with fresh tomatoes, cornbread and butterbeans. Most will recall Rocky’s instrumental talents, but few may remember his beautiful voice. Early on, he and his sister were invited to sing a duet on a “live broadcasting program” out of Meridian.  No small thing at the time. His uncle Ronnie White, an accomplished pianist, often played accompaniment and helped to encourage his love of singing and music in general. After finding his place as First Chair of the horn section in the Union HS Band, he devoted himself to mastering the French horn.  Under the band’s direction of Mr. Greg Paige, Rocky worked tirelessly along with his classmates to capture the title of the nation’s top recognition for high school bands, “ALL 1s”, several years in a row. He was honored to participate in a summer program at the esteemed Brevard Music Center in NC his senior year. He graduated Union HS Class of ’74. After moving to Amarillo, he attended San Jacinto Baptist Church and was married to Mary Ann Lemons in the nearby town of Memphis, TX. The couple remained married for fifteen years.  During this time he completed his undergraduate at WTA&MU where he received his Bachelors in Chemistry before joining ASARCO Copper Refining Co as a chemist. He had a green thumb with a special knack for cultivating red, hot chili peppers. He enjoyed listening to BB King and other Blues music live events in Austin long before South X Southwest was a thing. He spoke often of best friend, tuba player, Mark Howle. Back in the day, they enjoyed many long-distance games of chess. Rocky was an avid reader, lived a multi-faceted life, and was sincerely loved by all. While at BSA Hospice one of his nurses asked, Was Ted a musician? The response, Yes. But why do you ask? Her reply, He will sometimes lift his left hand slightly as if conducting a chorus.  A silent chorus, yes. That was Rocky. With his loving mother nearby and a faithful sister holding his hand, he opened his eyes, smiled and entered heaven. Rocky was preceded in death by his winsome brother, Rex Rowzee; his beautiful sister, Sheila Chester; his father, “Dan” Rowzee; and all of his wonderful grandparents. He is survived by his mother, Dorothy Rowzee; sister, Rita Morrow and husband, Paul; his uncle Ronnie White and wife, Martha; in addition to his extended family in the Mobile Bay, AL area and the many nieces and nephews who loved him. The family would like to offer a special thanks to all those at the Clarendon Nursing Home in Clarendon, TX, for doting on Ted, as he was known there, for these past few years.