1934 – 2015

NORWAY — Thoma Joline Tracy Rowe of Oxford died July 19, 2015, in Norway.

She was born in Lewiston on June 6, 1934, daughter of Arthur Hugh and Cleona Perkins Tracy. She was a member of the Paris High School, Class of 1952.

She and her husband, Charles “Bud” Rowe, were married on Oct. 28, 1950, and had four children, Thomas, Shirley, Charles and Russell. She worked in the school lunch program in Auburn for 22 years.

In the 1960s, they bought a small lot on Green Pond in Oxford, where they built a tent platform that became a camp and then their full-time home.

She, Bud and their children were frequent campers, traveling all over New England and Canada. In 1991, when they both retired, Bud and Thoma fulfilled their dream of going to Alaska, spending three months on the road.

Her family was the most important thing in her life, and she always welcomed visitors with muffins and cookies, if not a full meal. The humble camp on Green Pond became the center of their extended family’s life. Thoma nearly singlehandedly prepared feasts for Thanksgiving and Christmas when four generations of family gathered together.

She is survived by two sons and their wives, Charles Rowe and Dianne, and Russell Rowe and Jenny Adams, all of South Paris; a daughter and her husband, Shirley and Ray Dargie, of Oxford; a daughter-in-law, Donna Rowe of Poland; a brother and his wife, William and Dorna Tracy of Randolph; grandchildren, David Rowe, Erikka Martel, Marin Grover, Summer Rowe, Toni-Lynn Rowe, Andrew Dargie, Christopher Dargie, Nicholas Dargie, Alexandria Rowe and Benjamin Rowe; 12 great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; and many cousins, including a special cousin, Elizabeth Knight.

She was predeceased by her husband, Bud; son, Thomas Rowe; and grandson, Eric Dargie.

The family thanks Terri Dunn for her exemplary companionship and caregiving over the past 18 months, as well as the staff at Stephens Memorial Hospital for their compassion and kindness.

Online condolences may be shared with her family at www.chandlerfunerals.com.