By ALEXANDREA BAILEY
editor@portisabelsouthpadre.com
South Padre Islanders are currently mourning the loss of the beloved Colton Rowlett.
According to the South Padre Island Police Department, the motorcycle accident that ultimately claimed Rowlett’s life occurred at the 3400 block of Gulf Boulevard on South Padre Island shortly before 10:15 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 8. The report states that Rowlett had sustained severe head injuries. EMS quickly arrived on the scene and transported Rowlett to the hospital, where he was put in a medically induced coma.
Rowlett remained in the coma for seven days and passed on Tuesday, Oct. 15.
Rowlett, 21, was an active member of the Island community according to his family and friends.
Rowlett’s last gift to the world saved many lives as he was an organ donor. His Honor Walk took place on Friday, Oct. 18, at Valley Baptist in Harlingen, Texas.
His celebration of life funeral ceremony will take place on Thursday, Oct. 24, at Island Baptist Church. The local motorcycle community is putting together a ‘Last Rev’ event to celebrate Rowlett’s life following the ceremony. The surf community will be participating in a paddle out at Rowlett’s favorite surf spot, Wanna Wannas, the following day, Friday, Oct. 25, at 3 p.m. Also on Friday, the skate community will host a Skate Jam Celebration for Rowlett from 6 p.m. to sunset at John L. Tompkins Park. The last paddle out to lay Colton to rest in the sea will cap off the series of celebrations on Saturday, Oct. 26, at Dolphin Cove at noon.
An employer of Rowlett’s, Backus Beach Service hosted a BBQ fundraiser in honor of him on Saturday, Oct. 19, where they sold 500 lbs of chicken in under two hours. The funds raised were to support his family in these trying times.
Rowlett is leaving behind four siblings, Mickayla Hunter, RJ Guajardo, Shaena Guajardo, and Tiana Rowlett, and several nieces and nephews, Bradley & Bentley Cantu, Jonathan & Jeremiah Sandoval, Sophia & Layla Guajardo, and Ryan & Zade Guajardo.
“He loved all of his nieces and nephews,” said Rowlett’s oldest sister, Hunter. “He’d show up and take my kids and go do the trampoline park and anything wild and crazy. He’d always been very, very, attached to them…He was an awesome uncle.”
He also leaves behind his parents, Jack and Tina Rowlett.
According to Hunter, Rowlett was fearless since birth.
“He was always down to do anything once. If you told him he couldn’t do something, he would turn around and do it tenfold,” said Hunter. “He’s been like that since he came out of the womb. At 100 miles-per-hour, all the time.”
Rowlett had many passions, including surfing, skateboarding and riding motorcycles according to Hunter. Hunter says he’d been skateboarding since he was little, and started surfing when he moved to South Padre Island around 2009.
Hunter says he loved the Island, and endearingly called him “a little beach brat.”
“That was his home,” said Hunter.
Eventually, Rowlett’s family relocated to Nebraska. But that wouldn’t be the end of Rowlett’s Island life. In 2019, Rowlett visited the Island during a school break but ended up staying and graduating from high school a semester early virtually.
Around then, he began getting into riding bikes. According to Hunter, he’d buy cheap bikes, restore and resell them while continually upgrading his ride.
“He’d find cheap a bike, fix it up, sell it and then get a better bike, fix it up, and sell it. He would do that all the time,” said Hunter. “He had so many different types of bikes throughout the years.”
At the time of Rowlett’s accident, his father, Jack had been living with him for nearly a year. Hunter described them as so similar that they were almost “the same people,” despite their difference in age. Jack also had a motorcycle, and he and his son would go on rides and enjoy their beach life together. According to Hunter, Rowlett was always looking out for his dad.
“They were buds,” said Hunter.
Rowlett was a jack of many trades according to his sisters. He had his captain’s license and would assist charters as well as operate a banana boat. He also worked security at a few local bars and barbacked as well. He even assisted with Sandy Feet Sandcastle Services. When the slow season would come around, he started his own business hanging up Christmas lights around the community.
“Any little odd job he could do, he would do,” said Hunter. “Anybody who needed help, they called Colton, ‘cause Colton would literally drop everything and go.”
Hunter describes Rowlett as being super well-known and loved throughout the community.
“There was not a person that did not know him around here,” said Hunter. “It’s amazing to see that.”
1 comment
My prayers for his family. Such a beautiful soul taken too soon