James Rowan

James Rowan, of Sierra Vista, Ariz., was born on Jan. 29, 1952, at the Anna City Hospital, the son of William Ivan Rowan and Anita Marie Shasteen Rowan.

He died on Oct. 11, 2021, at Carondelet St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tucson, Ariz.

He was a simple person and you never wondered what was on his mind. He was a hard worker who loved to help others.  

James will be sorely missed by his family and his four legged companion of 15 years, Daisy.  

Family and friends were invited to attend a memorial service which was held at 4 p.m. on Oct. 16 at Hope Church in Anna.

He grew up in Makanda and graduated from Carbondale Community High School.  

He married Betty Jo Baggett on May 22, 1970, and shortly after started his family.  

He was a hard worker who worked in the steel mill in Indiana and relocated his family back to Southern Illinois, where he was a truck driver over 30 years. He retired and moved to Sierra Vista, Ariz., in 2016.

Survivors include his ex-wife Betty Jo Rowan of 50 years; sons James (Jimbo) Rowan, Joseph (Tara) Rowan, and Roger (Nikki) Rowan; daughter Anita (Rowan) Elliott; 14 grandchildren and six-great grandchildren, all of Southern Illinois.  

He also is survived by his siblings, Gayla (Rowan) Borganoni, Jeff Rowan, Jesse Rowan and John Rowan.  

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Joe Rowan; a daughter, Jeanne (Rowan) Dalton; and a grandson, RJ Stroehlein.