Marie B. Rowe was born May 20, 1905 in her family home in Ottawa, IL to parents Charles and Minnie Woehler Barnhart. She graduated from Ottawa High School in 1923. On December 9, 1937 she married James E. Rowe, Captain on the Ottawa police department. They were blessed with the birth of their only child, Charles James Rowe, on August 18, 1940. Her husband, James, passed away on May 29, 1953. Marie worked for many years as a bookkeeper for several businesses. She was also a lifelong member of the Evangelical United Methodist Church in Ottawa, IL. Marie was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and two sisters (Harriet Scherer and Florence Warren). She left behind one son, Charles J. Rowe and wife (Barbara), one granddaughter, Cynthia A. Creighton and husband (Michael), and two great-grandchildren, Colin and Colleen Creighton, all of Springfield, IL.