Ernest Elmer ‘Ernie’ Rowe, 55, lifelong Hoquiam resident and sportsman, died Thursday, Jan. 12, 2017, at Swedish Medical Center in Seattle, Wash.

Ernie was born on Dec. 11, 1961, in Aberdeen to Steven and Elinor (Ylinen) Rowe, Sr. He graduated from Hoquiam High School in 1980. On May 29, 1982, Ernie married Cindy Lewis. They later divorced.

He worked for Tuba Cedar of Grays Harbor cutting shake blocks. He then worked for an Independent Distributor of Budweiser for 28 years. He also worked at Ted’s Red Apple Grocery in Westport as the night Manager. For the last three years he has worked for Voortman Cookies as their District Rep.

Ernie was a member of The Grays Harbor Poggie Club in Hoquiam, NRA and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. He loved being outdoors, hunting, fishing and clam digging. Playing baseball and was on the Babe Ruth team that won districts and played in Akron, Ohio. He loved listening to music, especially The Blues. He enjoyed flat track motorcycle racing and going to AMA races in Castle Rock, Wash.

Ernie is survived by two sons: Jeremy Rowe of Aberdeen and Aaron Rowe of Olympia; brothers: Steve (Jeanette) Rowe of Aberdeen and Jarred Rowe of Hoquiam; a sister Michelle (Doug) Wren of Juneau, Alaska; step-mothers: Vicki Rowe of Hoquiam and Molly Rowe of Aberdeen; cousin hunting partner, Stephen (Alice) Boerner; Longtime family friend and hunting partner, Terry Edwards; nieces and nephews: Terry, Jeff, KC, Christi-May, Sierra and Audrey; grand-niece: Isabella Rowe; numerous other relatives. Ernie was preceded in death by his parents, Steven and Elinor Rowe; girlfriend, Betty Norton and a great-niece, Elliana Rowe and his dog Mo.

There will be a celebration of Ernie’s life on Jan. 29, at 1 p.m. in the Hoquiam Elks Lodge.

A message of condolence or of a memory can be sent to the family at www.fernhillfuneral.com.

Cremation arrangements are entrusted to Twibell’s Fern Hill Funeral Home in Aberdeen, Wash.