John Lanier Lowery

The long goodbye is over, the journey has ended for John Lanier Lowery. John leaves behind his mother, Donna Lynn Elender Lowery; brother, Richard Glenn Lowery and wife, Sherry; niece and nephew, Dusty and Rusty Lowery; and a host of family and friends. John was preceded in death by his father, Clerfa John Lowery.

The Friday evening that John was born, the world immediately became a better place. John's smile was infectious, his love for music, insurmountable; his critique of the written word a matter of lively discussion, and his desire to live life to the fullest, his passion. He was a stickler for performing his life's work well and for enjoying his spare time to the best of his ability. If anyone within hearing distance said, "let's go", he was way past ready.

He was a member of Henning Memorial United Methodist Church and Maplewood First Baptist Church. He also visited many other churches. Among them, were the different denominations that held services at the Verandah in Lake Charles, his last place of residence. Rocky Fusilier would also pick John up to attend worship services at Trinity Baptist Church in Lake Charles, as well as to attend their group's regular Monday night meetings, their class of 81' get-togethers, and social events in and around Lake Charles.

John was determined to participate in trials that could help advance treatment for Early Onset Alzheimer's, because our family has lost numerous members and continues to lose members due to Alzheimer's. John has been able to represent being an Alzheimer's patient, twice in the walk to end Alzheimer's in Lake Charles.

John participated in sports at Sulphur High, won various awards there, and was a top graduate from SHS. He was Mr. SHS his senior year, won the American Legion Award, and was President of his Senior class. He earned a degree in Structural Engineering at Louisiana Tech, and Civil Engineering at McNeese. John's career took him to several states. He ended his career as an Engineer for Lancon Engineering and the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury.

An outstanding time for us was when John and Richard played baseball for the Vets in the Dixie Youth Baseball League. It brought us to a great love of the game that had started with their grandmother, Eunice Elender. That enjoyment continues until today. Richard and John were both proud when the Iowa Yellow Jackets won the state championship, the team Rusty played on for his Senior year; and where Dusty and Rusty graduated from high school. John fought hard to hold onto these memories.

Hunting and fishing were understood sports from childhood. John fought to hold onto his memory with all of his heart, writing hundreds of papers of reminders and helpful notes in his red notebooks. He never failed to say, "I'm John Lowery, and I have Alzheimer's. You will have to remind me of who you are."

A gathering will be held on Saturday, November 8th at the DoubleTree Hotel's event room in Sulphur from 3:00 to 5:30 p.m. At that time, a Celebration of John's Life will be held.

A very special thanks is given to Miss Karen in the Memory Care Unit at The Verandah, the nurses and care-givers at Holly Hill on the 700 Wing, Harbor Hospice including Miss Shelly, and John's very special care-giver, Debra Green and her mother, and the Class of 1981.

For I was my father's son, tender and beloved in the eyes of my mother. - Proverbs 4:3