East Bay Times (Alameda, CA)

"Resident of Brentwood Dorothy Rowley passed away at her home in the East Bay Area community of Brentwood, CA on the evening of January 12, 2011. Dorothy Rae French was the child of parent's Raymond French and Oquella Waters French, (both now deceased). She was born in the City of Centralia, Washington. An outgoing, golden blond young woman with sparkling blue eyes, she married her husband at the age of 20- her lifelong companion of 55 years, Charles Atwood Rowley, Sr.- who passed away just a little over two years ago on New Years Eve of 2009. Dorothy is survived by her two daughter's Dr. Janine Rowley Cooley and her husband Doug, of Redmond, Washington and Allison and Tim Dillon of Livermore, California, as well as her son, Charles "Chip" Rowley, Jr., M.L.A. and his partner Steven Craig of Bradley, in Southern Monterey County. In addition, Dorothy is survived by three grandchildren whom she adored: Ian Rowley Cooley and his wife Annie, Erin Rowley Cooley, and Drew William Dillon; other surviving family members include her two younger sisters, Jennifer French and Reina French. Dorothy was both the apple of her father's eye and the light of her husband's life. She appreciated and encouraged creativity, sewing many stylish ensembles for herself and her children. She enjoyed gardening, decorating, equestrian life and service to her church congregation, as well as her medical administration career, which she resumed after early motherhood. Above all, she took pride in her family's history of culinary craft, sharing mirthful stories of growing up within her parent's nightclub and restaurant during the 1930's and early 40's in the Pacific Northwest. After meeting at Lake Tahoe in 1950, Dorothy and Chuck married soon afterward, living briefly in Reno, NV. Work brought Chuck to Pacific Bell Headquarters' based in San Francisco. After a few years home-based in Pacifica, the Rowley's finally settled in the transitioning new suburbs of the City of Concord, California. Here they raised and educated their children, enjoyed recreational and competitive aquatic sports and water-skiing vacations with friends before retiring as a couple to the Sierra Foothills in the Mokulumne River Watershed of Calaveras County. In keeping with her own spirit and sensibility, Mom did everything she could to ensure that each of her children were gifted with the best smile possible and taught us the value of sharing it with others. We will miss your own smile, mom- and the laughter that always came with it!"

"Jean Ellen Mayes Wexner Resident of Dublin 1/23/1923 - 12/15/2011 In loving memory of our dear Molly, born in Pasadena, CA and passing 88 years later in San Ramon, CA, Molly, as she was known to those closest to her, was the quintessential California woman — full of desire, full of dreams and full of the will to succeed. The mother of 7 children, 7 children-in-law, 5 step children and 4 step children in law, and grandmother to a total of 33, Molly will be remembered as a trendsetter. A mother who taught the boys to fix a meal and the girls to fix a car and who taught the boys to respect a woman and the girls to respect themselves. Firm in her approach but with a gentle soul, Molly was loved by many and respected by many more. One very important part of Molly's life was the 25 plus years she spent involved in scouting. She helped shepherd all three of her sons and all four of her daughters as well as hundreds of neighborhood girls through the many wonderful programs scouting had to offer. She was both a Girl Scout troop leader and a neighborhood troop coordinator but her crowning glory and coveted achievement was attending the international (worldwide) Girl Scout Roundup one summer in the 1970's held in Farragut, Idaho. She was married to her soul mate, Henry, for 32 years. She enjoyed a full life, filled with travel, activities with friends and family and creative interests. She loved to paint, and dance and even self-published a book about her life entitled "Mama's School". In an effort to honor this beautiful woman, a memorial service will be held at the Dublin Library Community Room, 200 Civic Plaza, Dublin CA 94568 on Wednesday May 23, 2012 at 10:30 AM."