Family, friends of Greg Rowley, Utah man who died on a Sedona bike trail, honor his life

Greg Rowley, a Utah man who died while biking on a trail near Devil's Bridge in Sedona with his two teenage sons in early April, was honored at a funeral service in his home city of Nephi, Utah at the Nephi Stake Center on April 20.

Rowley was pronounced dead on the Sedona trail on April 7 shortly after emergency medical services arrived in response to calls of the 53-year-old not breathing after complaining of chest pains and falling off his bike, according to the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office.

Thirteen days later, Rowley’s loved ones gathered at Nephi Stake Center in Nephi, Utah to mourn his unexpected passing.

The 53-year-old, described by those who knew him as a pillar for everything that is good in the world, was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints throughout his life, having held the title of bishop of the Nephi 8th Ward at the time of his passing, according to a public obituary by Goff Mortuary.

Rowley’s faith was shared by his wife, Jennifer Anderson-Rowley, and his six children, who reported taking comfort in their father’s faith and the hope that they will be together again, according to the obituary.

“I rejoice because when he fell off that bike, he met his Savior who was the one to pick him up, because he lived in a way that I will forever be proud to be called his son, and because I know that Christ rose again the third day,” wrote Jeff Rowley, one of Greg Rowley’s sons, in an Aug. 9 Facebook post.

In the same heart-felt Facebook post, Jeff said his father was his hero and the person he aspires to one day become, calling him the most constant and steadfast person he knew.

Rowley’s son wrote that his father’s unexpected passing after suffering what was most likely a heart attack was quick to make the world seem like a darker place, describing the sorrow he and his siblings felt over the loss of their father.

That sorrow was echoed by the Nephi community Rowley touched through his twelve-year-long service on the Nephi City Council and his involvement in local high school mentorship programs.

“I am deeply saddened by the news of Greg Rowley’s passing,” wrote Nephi City Mayor Justin Seely in a tweet following Rowley’s death. “One of my greatest privileges was serving with him on the Nephi City Council."

Seely said Rowley was constantly searching for ways to improve the Nephi community, recounting the countless hours Rowley spent educating and preparing himself for the topics of city council discussion.

“We were impressed by him and voted for him because he took the time to go door to door and see the community and listen to us,” wrote Morris and Judy Wright in a public tribute.

In addition to his years spent serving on the Nephi City Council and volunteering as a mentor for the work experience program offered at Juab High School, Rowley coached youth sports and frequently supported high school sports teams, according to the obituary.

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Rowley held a degree from Utah State University and Wichita State University in physical therapy and held a 27-year-long career as a board-certified physical therapy and sports medicine doctor at Central Valley Medical Center in Nephi.

According to the obituary, he was the sole physical therapist in Nephi in the late 1990s and played a significant role in growing the town’s physical therapy presence.

“There are countless stories of Greg showing up to diagnose and help those who were hurt. He wouldn’t go anywhere without his blue bag,” read the obituary.

The Arizona Republic reached out to Rowley’s family for comment, who consented to a story based on public information but preferred not to speak on the matter.

Rowley is survived by his six children, Jeff (Kelly), Jared (Breanna), Jackson, Ellie, Jay, and Jacob, his wife, Jennifer Rowley, his granddaughter Belle, his parents, Steven Dee and Colleen Rowley, his siblings, Brian (Emily), Kevin (Jeanette), Trent (Megan), Daniel (Jenny), Sheri, Janell (Darrell) and multiple nieces and nephews, according to the obituary.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Family and friends honor Utah man who died on Sedona bike trail