Michael | FudgeMuppet@OldBerryChew
It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that we share that Camelworks (Mackenzie Rowles) has passed away.
With his family and many, many friends we gathered for a celebration of his life focusing on all he had achieved and how much love he gave so freely to all who knew him. It was a beautiful final send-off for an amazing guy who touched the lives of so many people, not only those he loved, helped and laughed with personally, but the millions of viewers he reached online through hundreds of videos he obsessively worked on throughout his years. Mackenzie’s ashes were scattered in his favourite spot in a beautiful national park he loved to visit.
His family and closest friends ask that you share your favourite memories of him and to remember him for his endless passion, love of diving into the details, and the joy he brought to all. Please respect their wishes for privacy during this difficult time.
We first met Mackenzie in 2015, when we were burgeoning young YouTube channels trying to make a living from gaming content in a world where almost no one believed it was possible. We’d meet up at local cafes to swap tactics, give each other pep talks about how we are going to make it big, and coordinate how we’d do the many “shout outs” so common for that era. Somehow it all worked out as planned, and the next thing we knew we were wrapped up together in all kinds of unique experiences we’ll cherish forever. From picking locks and doing archery at the Elder Scrolls Escape in Kangaroo Valley, to exploring the streets of LA at E3, or partying in a nuclear bunker in West Virginia – there are just so many good memories that wouldn’t have been the same without Mackenzie. The kinds of puns and jokes you’ve heard him use throughout his videos are a reflection of the same humour he’d effortlessly use in person to keep all his friends laughing.
Camel was always there to talk or lend a helping hand to anyone who asked. He’d feature in our skits, spend hours dissecting the TES iceberg with us, and even made some fantastic thumbnails for our channel before we knew what we were doing. We will always appreciate the help and enthusiasm he shared with us in those formative years.
We were blessed to see Camelworks become one of the core pillars of the TES/BGS community and we want you to know just how hard he worked for his audience, and how much he cherished your support. He was incredibly grateful for everyone who enjoyed the content he spent so much time creating and truly was the man of meticulous masterpieces, leaving no stone unturned in his deep dives (and quite literally with his love of collecting rocks, among many other esoteric oddities).
Camel, rest in peace brother. May you live on in us all when we wander off the beaten path, searching every nook and cranny just to see what’s there.
- Michael & Scott (FudgeMuppet)
