Mattie Rowell

Obituary: Mattie Manley Rowell, 68, of Kannapolis, died peacefully at home surrounded by family on Friday, February 24, 2017. She was born September 12th, 1948 in the town of Welsh in McDowell County West Virginia. Mattie's parents were David "Bus" and Iva Manley of Austinville, VA. Mattie is survived by her husband, Evander "Van" Rowell; her two daughters, Leigh Hopkins of Thomasville, NC , Allison Wightman of Kannapolis; one brother Howard Manley and sister-in-law Ann Manley of Wythe County VA; 4 grandchildren, JD Wightman, Vanessa Wightman, Alan Hopkins, and Joseph Hopkins; and a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Charlie and Thommy Snead. Mattie attended Virginia Intermont College and graduated from Radford College with a BS in Elementary education. She was a dedicated teacher for 18 years in Virginia and North Carolina. She married Van on June 26th, 1971 and they have enjoyed over 45 years of marriage. Mattie loved to read (big trilogies), shag (with Van), watch movies (of said trilogies), take trips to the beach, and knit and crochet scarfs (lots of them). Most of all Mattie enjoyed spending time with her family. Van and the girls will welcome friends and family to celebrate Mattie's life at their home on Thursday, March 2, 2017. Friends and family are welcome to drop in between the hours of 3:00pm and 6:00pm. Mattie really appreciated the excellent care she received from her oncologist, Dr. Richard Williams and his staff. She also was indebted to the special care shown to her from the staff of the Levine Cancer Center at Carolinas Healthcare System-NorthEast. Memorials may be made to Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, 383 Main Avenue, Fifth Floor, Norwalk, CT 06851. On-line condolences may be left at www.whitleysfuneralhome.com, Kannapolis, NC who is serving the family.
Visitation: Drop in at Family Home 3:00-6:00 P.M. Thursday March 2, 2017

Service: Private Service

Interment: Pending