Obituary
Joseph Newton Rowlett, Jr., known to virtually everyone as “Sonny,” was born Sept. 15, 1946 in Portales, to the home of Joseph Newton Rowlett and Ruby Lea Rogers, and died on the evening of July 29, 2023 in Clovis, NM. Sonny was reared by his mother and step-father, Syd Wilson. He grew up in Portales, and joined the US Army in 1968. Sonny served in Vietnam during the Vietnam War until 1969. Following his discharge he became a Pawn Broker in Killeen, TX. After moving back to Portales, he was married to Kaye Ferguson on Mar. 31, 2007. He was a member of the Calvary Baptist Church. He enjoyed doing woodworking and collecting coins. Cremation has taken place, and there will be no formal services.
He is survived by his wife, Kaye of their home; his two sons and a daughter-in-law, Johnny Rowlett of Albuquerque and Andy and Christy Bright of Amarillo, TX; his three daughters and a son-in-law, Kim Powers, Michelle Foster and JoLynn and Jarvis Miller all of Amarillo, TX; a step-son, Monty Porter of Portales and a step-daughter and son-in-law, Katye and Gary Essary also of Portales; eight grandchildren and seven step-grandchildren; one great-grandchild and four step-great-grandchildren; his sister and brother-in-law, Joletha and Tommy Heflin of Portales; two brothers-in-law, Lewis and Marsha Montague of Andrews, TX and Bert Montague of House, NM; two sisters-in-law, Carolyn McGann and Beth and Dan Tucker of Hobbs, NM; as well as numerous nieces and nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his father, Joe Rowlett, and his mother and step-father, Syd and Ruby Wilson.
