Rick Fowler

Rick Fowler, 63, of Spanaway, WA, and formerly of Cortland, NY, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, at his home. 

Rick was born on December 4, 1960, the son of the late Donald and Sharon (Connelly) Morehouse and Larry Fowler.  A 1980 graduate of McGraw Central School, Rick served in the United States Air Force for 20 years and four months.  He met and married his wife, Debra, and had four children.  During his tours in England, Texas, and Washington, he volunteered many hours to the Red Cross and many other different organizations.  He received his Associates in Applied Science, Instructional Technology, Natural Resources Conservation, Criminal Justice, and Arts.  He had also earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Arts Instruction Design.  Rick loved hunting, fishing, building computers, and making people laugh. 

He is survived by his wife, Debra Fowler; a daughter, Michelle (Carlos) Triana; sons, David Fowler and Christopher Fowler; and a daughter, Cathy Fowler.  He was also richly blessed by grandsons, Benjamin, Thomas, and Henry, all of Spanaway, WA.  His surviving family growing up included sisters, Michelle Morehouse of Cortland and Mary Jo (Morehouse) Shorts of McGraw; aunts, Vicki (Fowler) Dunning of Florida, Berdine Connelly of IL, and Ruby Scalia of Ithaca.  He also has two nieces, Elizabeth (Chip) Platt and Jacki Shorts; two nephews, Justin Shorts and Kevin Shorts; four great-nephews and two great-nieces; and many cousins. 

In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his grandparents, Don and Jean Fowler, Vincent and Elva Connelly, Jeanette and Grover Morehouse; and many aunts, uncles and cousins. 

There will be a memorial service at Fir Lane Memorial Park in Spanaway, WA at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, with a celebration of life to follow at a later date in Cortland, NY.  Expressions of sympathy in memory of Rick may be directed to Veterans Search and Rescue, P.O. Box 5113, Cortland, NY 13045.