Charles Martin Rowe

Milo - Home Going services for Mr. Charles Martin "Charlie" Rowe, 84, are scheduled for 2:00 PM Monday, Oct. 25, 2021 at the Milo Baptist Church with nephew, Rev. Mike Johnston officiating and grandson, Jeremiah Rowe, providing the eulogy. Interment will follow at the Milo Cemetery. Family visitation and viewing will be held at the home of Diane (Rowe) Bond, 127 House Creek Rd; Springer, OK. Services are under the care and direction of Alexander Gray Funeral Home.

Charlie was born on April 21, 1937 at Zaneis to the late Mr. Doc Omer Rowe and Mrs. Johnnie Celestine (Martin) Rowe. He departed this life on Friday, October 22, 2021 at his home in Springer.

Charlie was raised with his parents working as educators which made his school years frequent at several small communities of this area. He graduated from Springer High School in 1955 and then attended college initially at Murray State and thereafter at OSU. During these years, Charlie was a well established bull rider as a participant of the RCA, and would rodeo often with Freckles Brown.

In 1959, Charlie was drafted into the United States Army serving in Germany during the Berlin Wall Crisis. He served honorably and received his well anticipated discharge in 1966. Charlie was united in marriage to the former Ms. Shirley Wilson on Dec. 15, 1966 at Norman.

Charlie was most well known for being a cattleman, running stockers in Oklahoma and Colorado. His family operated a ranch in Burneyville, before purchasing the Fitzgerald Ranch of Springer in 1989. Thereafter he mainly operated a mama cow operation until establishing House Creek Cabins of Springer. With the help of Kenny Shores and Vance and Toni Epley, they offered guided hunts for numerous hunters on the ranch.

Charlie always enjoyed being an outdoors man and a good conservationist. He loved watching his martin birds during the day and observing his bats leaving their nest in the evening. His lifelong passion was sharing the gospel to others wherever he was and teaching Sunday School Class. He was a member of the Milo Baptist Church.

Preceding him were his parents; sister, Quanna Sue Johnston and her husband Jerry; grandparents, Jack and Clara Mae Martin; parents in law, James Ernest and Treva Wilson; niece, Shytana Bray and sister in law, Janis Eastman.

Survivors include his loving wife Shirley of the home; daughter, Diane Bond and husband Tim of Springer; son, Dee O. Rowe of Florida; granddaughter, Rachal Rowe; grandson, Jeremiah Rowe;great grandchildren, Baylor, Ashlyn and Maverick; nieces and nephews, Johnny and Laura Johnston, Mike and Shelley Johnston, Teresa Johnston and Peggy Sue Johnston; sister in law, Judy Kelley; brother in law, Jim Wilson and wife Sherry; Also, Charlie and Shirley's home was always open to people of the evangelical field. This led to meeting their so called adoptive sons, Mark and Todd Roberts "the twins" and eventually their families. The twins always kept Charlie on his toes and because of them , Charlie became known worldwide as the "snake man"; numerous other family and friends.

Casket bearers are Caleb "Chigger" Holbrook, Joe Oakman, Rob Tidwell, Johnny Johnston, Justin Johnston and Shyler Primrose.

Honorary bearers are Mike Johnston, Tim Bond and Keith Martin.

In lieu of flowers the family would like donations made to the Upward Bound Ministry, PO Box 627 Lutz, FL 33548

The family would like express their appreciation to Cross Timber's Hospice of Ardmore,, especially to Heather, Shaquanna and Sarah, for all their kindness and dedication.

Condolences may be sent online at www.alexanderfuneralhome.org