Penny Ann Rowley

Penny Ann Rowley, 68, passed away unexpectedly on 13 March 2021 in Mesa, Arizona. She was born the 5^th child to Var Rowley & Buena Lamoreaux in Mesa.

She graduated from Westwood High School in Mesa, and then from BYU. Penny had many talents; her primary talent was Dance. She was not only a talented dancer, but a great choreographer and teacher too. She danced and taught dance for many years at the Paris Dance Studios [formerly Rowley School of Dance].  After High School she danced as the “scared princess” the only “blonde” member of a Polynesian Dance group in Mesa.  While at BYU, Penny taught Tap as an under graduate, and was able to portray her love of the skill to many others.  

After graduating at BYU she taught school in Layton Utah, then moved back to Arizona where she started teaching school in Eloy.

She then went to work for Mesa Schools and set-up the After School Dance Program for them. Penny continued to spread her love of dance, and taught dance out of her home to friends and family.  The opportunity soon came for her to make the move to her first job in technology, where she installed computer systems in Hotels and Restaurants’, throughout the US.  After a short move to Texas, she returned to Arizona where she went to work for SRP.

Then the opportunity for her dream job came with Continental Airlines.  Penny went to work for Continental Airlines and for a while she moved to Cleveland Ohio.  Penny loved flying with Continental and became a Flight Service Manager for them very quickly. 

Penny returned to Arizona where she had her daughter Mackenzie and had a tough first year as Mackenzie was very ill.  But they made it through that year and before long Penny had another opportunity, and joined MicroAge.  At MicroAge Penny held a number of positions and found herself being an adult education instructor teaching all manner of technology topics.  When the company restructured, she decided it was a sign, and went back to work as a Teacher at Mesa Public Schools where she taught PE to K thru 6^th graders.  She loved teaching the kids the variety of ways to enjoy movement.  Eventually, she moved on to a job at Smith Jr High where she taught Dance and helped Jr High girls to respect and value themselves. 

Again, her draw to Technology and continuing adult education took her to Avnet, then to Honeywell and on to Arrow Electronics.  At each company she was a valued team member holding positions in Adult education.

As member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Penny held many callings which of course included teaching children who she loved seeing grow up and become wonderful adults, and adults who she loved getting to know and enjoyed their fellowship immensely.

Besides her many talents, Penny loved to laugh, she was adventurous and loved to travel and do family road trips.  She was kind, and thoughtful and would talk for hours to anyone just for the opportunity to learn about them and their experiences. She was sensitive to others and genuinely interested in everyone one she met.  She received accolades in her many jobs, but her favorite ‘job’ was being Mom to her daughter Mackenzie who she loves to the “moon and back”.

We know Penny is united with her beloved Mother Ann, Father Var, Brother Jack, and many fur babies.  She leaves her daughter, Mackenzie, her siblings, Ken Rowley, April Coleman, Gordon Rowley, Chris Rowley, honorary sister Denise Spencer, honorary daughter Ashley Hendrickson, and two honorary grandchildren Brilynn and Cayden Winters along with many nieces and nephews, cousins, friends and fur children.  Our smart, beautiful and creative ballerina will be remembered and missed always and until we all meet again.

Funeral services are set for Monday, 22 March 2021 at 11 AM, preceded by a visitation at 10 AM at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Chapel at 825 S 32 St. Mesa, Arizona, 85204   

Services can be viewed at the following link: https://youtu.be/NeOXKyj1avQ