Nona Edwards Rowcliffe

Born January 18, 1940 in London, England to Edmund and Doris Edwards, Nona Rowcliffe grew up in Llandaff North, Wales during WWII. She always remembered fondly her best friend Joy Lloyd and cherished their 73-year friendship. Nona trained as a Royal florist, a skill and gift she shared with her family and friends. Among many other talents, Nona was also licensed as a Royal Academy of Dance ballet teacher and trained to teach babies drown proofing and swimming. Over the years, she was an aquatic director at various YMCAs and a Montessori teacher. She had many close friends in England with whom she stayed close over the years. Nona and her former husband, Arthur, emigrated from England with their four children, Gary, Amanda, Philip, and Simon to Boston, Mass in May,1970. Following Arthur’s career in materials science, Nona made homes for her family in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, and finally Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Nona loved volunteering in her community with the YWCA, Oak Ridge Civic Ballet, and the Oak Ridge Playhouse. She also performed in several musicals and plays during the Paul Ebert era. All who knew Nona will remember her fabulous pool and dinner parties on Mona Lane. An avid outdoors woman and lover of nature, Nona enjoyed tennis, swimming, dancing, and camping trips to the Outer Banks with her family. A life-long Episcopalian, Nona loved to travel to Sewanee: The University of the South which all four of her children attended. From Lessons and Carols to graduations, Nona felt at home in All Saints Chapel. Nona ‘retired’ to Edisto Island in 2006 where, once again, she volunteered her time and gifts to the Episcopal Church on Edisto, Botany Bay Wild Life Refuge, and the Sea Turtle Patrol. She helped start a car service for low income people on Edisto and always kept active in progressive politics. She had enormously happy years on Edisto kayaking, turtling, eating oysters, and enjoying great friends in her ‘paradise.’ More recently, Nona had returned to Knoxville where her children and grand children have cared for her as her health declined. Gary and Amanda are grateful to Vivian Fleming, Carolyn Gentry, the caregivers at Shannondale, and the people of Ascension Episcopal Church who have been so gracious to Nona and quite often shared a Bombay gin and tonic with her. Nona is survived by her dear sister, Carole Fryer (John and their children David, Catherine, and Peter), former husband Arthur Rowcliffe; their four children: Gary (Sandra and their children Eliza, Claire, Cline, and Garrett); Amanda (and her daughter Emily); Philip (Neal); and Simon (Amy and their children Morgyn and Braedyn). Her legacy of striving for justice and love for all of God’s creation lives on through her children and grandchildren. Nona is also survived by loving nieces, nephews, spouses and partners of her grandchildren, and a host of long-time friends. A memorial service will be held at 2pm on Saturday, August 3 at The Episcopal Church of the Ascension, Knoxville. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Arbor Day Foundation or NPR. Nona regularly gave blood to the American Red Cross. Please consider doing the same in her memory. A life well and fully lived. Online condolences may be extended at www.rosefuneraltn.com

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Nona Edwards Rowcliffe

January 18, 1940 - May 28, 2024