Allen Dale Rowland, 69, of the Birdtown Community, went home to be with the Lord Monday, Sept. 28, 2015. A native of Swain County, he was the son of the late Dewitt Owle and Roxie Wiggins and stepson to the late Walter Wiggins. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, James Michael Owle and Grady Macarther Owle and two sisters, Bessie Owle Long and Esther Owle Waldroup.
Allen is an enrolled member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and a member and former Pastor of Antioch Baptist Church of Coopers Creek. He was also a former Pastor of Galbreath Creek Baptist Church.
Allen is survived by his wife, Ella Mae Rowland; one son, James Rowland and fiancée Heather Queen of Cherokee; one stepson, James Paul Crisp and wife Alicia of Bryson City; two grandsons, Caleb Rowland and Coy Rowland of Cherokee; two granddaughters, Callie Cook of Franklin and Autumn Rain Crisp of Bryson City; four sisters, Gaynelle Estes, Dorothy Brady Owle, Elizabeth Owle Crowe, and Frances Dee Arneach all of Cherokee; one brother, Paul Owle of Cherokee and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral Services will be held at 3pm on Wednesday, Sept. 30 at the Chapel of Crisp Funeral Home. Rev. Roger Roland will officiate with burial at Birdtown Cemetery immediately following the service at the Funeral Home.
The family will receive friends from 1-3pm Wednesday at the Funeral Home.