Georgia Lea (Davis) Rowh, 98, formerly of Norton, Kansas, passed on to her heavenly home on April 2, 2024, at the Citizens Medical Center in Colby, Kansas following a short illness. Georgia was born in Dellvale, Kansas to Mazie and Percy Davis, and was the oldest of three girls and a boy. The family moved to Clayton, Kansas when she was a young girl where Percy owned a grocery store. She graduated from Clayton High School in 1944. Following graduation, she attended secretarial school in Kansas City, then moved to Denver with her sister, Dorothy, to work as a bookkeeper at a wholesale lumber company.
In 1946 she married a classmate from Clayton, Lyman Rowh, when he returned from serving on Guam in WWII. They were fortunate to celebrate 66 years together until his death in 2012. To this union four children were born: Jay (Rita) in Beloit, Jim currently an evangelist in Kenya, Carla (John) Pilkington in Oakley, and Jon in Norton. The family now includes 11 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren.
After spending a few more years in Denver where Lyman graduated from Denver University, they moved back to Norton in 1952 when Lyman was a teacher and administrator in the Norton School System. Georgia was a stay-at-home Mom raising the kids. Lyman went into the car/implement business at Mizell Motor Company in 1960, which Georgia and Lyman later purchased in 1968, changing the name to Rowh Motor Company. Georgia also worked in the office of Southwestern Bell Telephone Company for 16 years, then worked at the Andbe Home in Norton following the closing of the Norton Bell Telephone office. She particularly enjoyed the many volunteer jobs and service clubs that she participated in, especially for the Norton Christian Church and the Thrift Shop. She was also an avid bridge player.
Georgia and Lyman were fortunate to travel extensively, especially with a group of Norton friends that called themselves “The Rovers”. Together they were able to visit all but two of the fifty states. She and Lyman were totally devoted to the activities of their children and grandchildren, traveling to games, concerts, recitals, and any other activity that called for their attendance. Following Lyman’s passing, she continued to reside in Norton, first at Bieber Cottages and later at Whispering Pines, moving to Colby following the closure of WP in 2022. The move allowed her to be closer to her daughter in Oakley, which turned into a great blessing for all.
Georgia was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Lyman, two sisters (Dorothy Goodman and Janice Lawshe) and one brother (Rex Davis). She is survived by her children, Jay, Jim, Carla, and Jon, plus her 11 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren.Services will be held at the Norton Christian Church on Tuesday, April 9th, 2024, at 2:00 PM. Memorials may be made to Gather the Outcasts in Norton, or the Norton Christian Church and sent in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 391, Colby, KS 67701. For information or condolences visit baalmannmortuary.com