Main fundraiser photo

Funeral & Family Fund Following Death of Ryan Rowe

Donation protected
My name is Jacquie Steiner. I started this GoFundMe for my dear friend Lori O'Brien (Strickler). Well, "dear friend" doesn't really suffice. She is family. We grew up together in the small logging town of Sweet Home, Oregon.

On Thursday, December 19, Lori lost her beautiful son, Ryan Rowe, in a tragic in-home accident. He died from carbon-monoxide poisoning after falling asleep in an under-ventilated room in his Christmas Valley, Oregon home. Returning from work on an overnight shift, fiancée Kiley Rikala found an unresponsive Ryan, performed CPR and was sadly unable to revive him. He was just 35 years old.

Ryan and Kiley had been together for seven years, and had purchased a home together in Christmas Valley roughly one year ago. Kiley has a 16-year-old daughter, Hailie, who Ryan considered his own. Hailie returned the favor by taking the Rowe last name. Obviously they, along with family and many friends, are devastated, and they now face the future prospect of a one-income household.


An avid animal lover who never turned a stray away, four dogs (Ryan's beloved Beagles: Bandit, Lucy, Buster, and Sadie) also died in the accident.

Donations will go towards funeral-memorial expenses (including remains transport from Christmas Valley to Sweet Home), to help with Lori's berevement time away from work, and most significantly, for emergency/future-seed money for Kiley and Hailie. Kiley works as a "housemom" for Telecare, a facility in Bend that houses and cares for troubled girls. Hailie is a sophomore in high school.


Any amount you can give is greatly appreciated. If we are blessed enough to surpass initial goals, any and all excess funds will be considered seed money for Kiley and Hailie.

Besides Lori, Kiley, and Hailie, Ryan is survived by his father Gary Rowe, grandfather Verle Jack Strickler, grandmother Virginia Strickler, grandmother Sandy Strickler, uncles John and James Strickler, brother Jerohn Coleman, and sisters Kristi and Julie Rowe, and Jennifer Griffith. So many extended family and friends are grieving as well, including auntie Dena, also from Sweet Home. On a strictly personal note, the Rowe/O'Brien family has always been very close to the Steiners. My younger sister Julie is also one of Lori's childhood best friends, and was Ryan's Godmother.


The families, and I, thank you for your consideration at this difficult time.
Donate

Donations 

  • Taylor Olson
    • $20
    • 5 yrs
Donate

Organizer

Jacquie Steiner
Organizer
Menlo Park, CA

Your easy, powerful, and trusted home for help

  • Easy

    Donate quickly and easily

  • Powerful

    Send help right to the people and causes you care about

  • Trusted

    Your donation is protected by the GoFundMe Giving Guarantee