Betty Marie Lowery

Betty was raised in the Bagley community before construction began on Tenkiller Dam. She lived there with her parents and siblings and attended Bagley Schools. Betty worked at the Vian Nursing Home, where her love of taking care of people started and never quit as the years went on. When she was not working, she was a homemaker, raising all five of her children in Chicken Creek. She worked effortlessly taking care of everyone whether it be elders or helping with her grand kids or great grand kids. She never met a stranger; she was always the one to say hi or shake hands with anyone she met. Bingo was one of her favorite hobbies and later it would be the casino that she enjoyed. She lived life to the fullest. Her beauty and kindness will be remembered always. She lived life to the fullest.

Mema became a name early on in life and stuck with her throughout life. Betty (Mema) was called home on January 3, 2026, and was preceded in death by her parents Nick and Charlotte Byers; brothers Joe, Edward, and Charlie Byers; sisters Fannie Anderson, Lillie Bishop, Nancy Hatley, Annabelle Silk, Regina Leep, and Virginia Heist, and one granddaughter Kara Lowery.

Those left to cherish her memory are her five children: Janice Steed and Keith Byers of Tahlequah, Leo Alvin Jr. of Muskogee, Vickie (Jeff) Shamblin of Alabama, and Joanne Lowery of Tahlequah. She also leaves behind her 9 grandchildren; James, Allen, Randy, Jacob and Melissa, Nick, Andrea, Samantha and Charlotte, 13 great grandchildren: Rebecca, Elijah, Lynden, Brodie, Kylan, Geordee, Kaleb, Natalee, River, Noah, Chloe Denise, Lashay and Elijah, 5 great-great grandchildren: Brooke, Seth, Ivy, Alani and Azaya. She loved them all. She also leaves behind many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends who knew her and loved her.

Whether you knew her, talked to her, or just shook hands with her, you never forgot the kindness she always gave. Her beauty and kindness live on in each one of us that is here to remember her today.

The family would like to thank Cherokee Nation and Cherokee Nation Home Health for the love and support that has been given in this time of need.