Obituary
Miriam Elizabeth Rowley, 46, of Portland, Oregon, died July 27, 2026, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Portland after a lengthy illness. She was born in the same hospital on May 10, 1980.
As a child, Miriam was a talented softball player and a gifted pianist. She was an avid reader, with a particular love for Anne of Green Gables and Little Women. She was also a skilled player of the game Masterpiece, though she always cared more about collecting her favorite paintings than about winning.
Miriam grew up in Lake Oswego and West Linn, Oregon and was a graduate of Wilsonville High School. She went on to graduate cum laude from Portland State University. She built a career in technology, most recently serving as Senior Software Engineering Manager at Slack, where colleagues knew her for her thoughtful, empathetic leadership and her ability to bring out the best in her teams. Earlier in her career, she worked at New Relic and Daimler.
She is survived by her husband of 23 years, Brion Rowley; her siblings Andrew Long, Peter Long, and Genevieve Walker and their spouses; her nieces Kaelyn Long, Sonia Trettel, and Callie Long; her nephew Byron Long; many cousins, including Beth Long; and her chosen family, close friends, and beloved cats Kitteh and Maisie.
Miriam had a deep love of travel, wine, fashion, and fitness. She had a lifelong fascination with the British royal family, especially Princess Diana. Her love of fashion and style will live on in the memory of everyone who knew her, along with her appreciation for fine jewelry. She had traveled to 26 countries, recently returning to France and England where she spent time enjoying old world wine in Bordeaux and visiting the Cartier exhibit in London. Among her travels, she was especially fond of South Africa and Namibia, with their breathtaking landscapes, wild animals, great wine, and the feel of the deep red NamibRand sand between her toes. She dreamed of moving overseas, splitting time between Europe and Africa. She was an accomplished distance runner, completing the Portland Marathon several times as well as the Rome Marathon. She also ran the 2018 Boston Marathon, in which the brutal, freezing weather sidelined many other racers with hypothermia. Completing this race spoke to her resilience and determination.
Miriam was devoted to conservation and animal rescue at home and abroad, bringing the same remarkable patience and persistence to caring for animals in need that she brought to everything she did. She had recently rescued a litter of kittens from the streets of Portland, ensuring all were safe and loved.
Miriam was a friend to all and endlessly curious. She was wonderful baker, known to family and friends for her cakes, cookies, and fudge, and a gourmet cook who loved to entertain. Miriam loved living in NW Portland and taking long walks in the West Hills, usually making a circuit to visit her many cat friends while endlessly listening to podcasts.
As an Air Force spouse, Miriam proudly supported Brion throughout his career as he rose to the rank of Chief Master Sergeant (CMSgt). For many years, she was deeply involved with the Family Program for the 142nd Fighter Wing, and in 2014 she was named Regional Volunteer of the Year, accepting the honor from a 4-star General. Among her favorite chapters of life was the time she and Brion spent stationed together in Stuttgart, Germany.
In Miriam’s own words: “What matters is time spent with soul family, sunsets and sunrises, watching landscapes change from an airplane window, feeling Namibian sand between my toes, and making a difference in conservation of places and animals. What matters is lives saved, beloved places preserved, restored and renewed. What matters is being there for the people we love and who love us. What matters is leaving this place better than we found it. For making each other less alone, less isolated — to tear down the illusion of separateness — to contribute to making a more beautiful world.”
Two passages were especially meaningful to Miriam: “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12), and words widely attributed to Howard Thurman: “Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”
She will be remembered for her warmth, her strength, and the deep love she carried for her family, her friends, and the wider world she so loved to explore. She will be forever missed.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Forest Park Conservancy in Portland, Oregon.
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