Sarah Elizabeth Green Rowland
Sarah Elizabeth Green Rowland, 53, of Burnet died Aug. 24, 2012, after a four-year battle with breast cancer. She was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, on Nov. 12, 1958, to Anthony and Elizabeth Green.
She graduated from Sir Robert Borden High School in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, in 1976. She then attended Christie Secretarial College in Cheltenham, England, before moving to Bermuda, where she worked as a legal secretary specializing in trademarks for Smith, Barnard & Diel Barristers and Attorneys in Hamilton.
While there, she met Gary Arthur Rowland, and, on March 1, 1986, they were married at St. Mark’s Church in Smith’s Parish. Their children — Benjamin Stuart, now 24, and Dorothy Anne, now 22 — were born.
They left Bermuda in 1990 and moved to Burnet, where they worked side by side to create Hairston Creek Farm.
The couple had a third child, Henry Rupert, now 14, who was born on the farm.
With love and care, her children and the farm thrived. The family worked together planting, harvesting and traveling to markets to make the farm a success. What they didn’t sell, she preserved in one of her jams.
She was the voice behind the farm, writing a weekly newsletter for customers and friends that offered an insight into the world of farming much needed in a modern world. She was an advocate for local and organically grown foods, serving on the board of directors of the Sunset Valley Farmers Market.
After being diagnosed with cancer in May 2008, she battled with all her will, continuing to work and care for her family before dying at the farm.
In addition to her husband of 26 years and her children, survivors include her mother; sister Stephanie Jane and Ross Fleming of Toronto, Ontario; aunts Anne Astbury of Devon, England, and Isobel Townshend of Sunderland, England; mother-in-law Mary Jo Wilson of Burnet; father-in-law A.O. Rowland and wife Jo of Tyler; brothers-in-law Wayne Rowland and wife Donna of Hot Springs, Ark., Mark Rowland of Marble Falls; and Brian Wilson and wife Tamara of Fort Worth; sister-in-law Gwynne Wilson of Denver, Colo.; seven nieces; one nephew; and numerous other relatives.
She was preceded in death by her father.
A memorial service is 10 a.m. Aug. 28 at 4300 CR 335 in Burnet.
The family would like to thank Dr. Glenn Preston and the staff at the Cancer Care Centers of South Texas in Marble Falls for their care and to all her friends who gave immeasurable kindness and support during her illness.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to help fund her son Henry’s college education by donating to the Sarah
Rowland Memorial Scholarship Fund, Security State Bank, P.O. Box 769, Marble Falls, TX 78654.
Condolences may be offered at www.clementswilcoxburnet.com.
Arrangements by Clements-Wilcox Funeral Home in Burnet, 306 Texas 29 East in Burnet, (512) 756-2222.