Rubye Jean Parham Lowry, 92, of Mount Juliet, passed away peacefully at her home with family by her side on Wednesday, April 20, 2022. She was born in Nashville on May 17, 1929, to the late John Wesley Parham and Marie Herndon Parham. She was the first of three girls and is preceded in death by sisters Doris Parham Evans and Carolyn Parham Weaks and her husband James E. Lowry.
Rubye Jean graduated from Howard High School in 1947 where she was a cheerleader and basketball player, and later attended Vanderbilt University. Rubye Jean got her love of family and toughness from her mother, her love of sports from her Daddy, and came by her love of flying all on her own. She played basketball for numerous AAU teams in the 50s, including May Hosiery Mills, Cook’s Goldblumes and Nashville Business College, and was a walking history book of women’s basketball from the early days of the game.
The love of flying and a good-looking pilot defined much of her life. She was a stewardess for Capital Airways and told her Daddy she wanted to fly. He encouraged her to pursue that passion, telling her she could do anything if she set her mind to it – a mindset Rubye instilled in each of her children. She met the love of her life (a pilot, of course), Jim Lowry, at Nashville Flying Service where they both worked. He taught her to fly, and she soloed in a Cessna 150 in 1961. Jim nicknamed her “RJ,” and most everyone called her RJ, Mom, or Mammaw the rest of her life.
Besides being Jim’s wife, the thing RJ cherished the most was being a mom, not only to her kids but also to every kid in the neighborhood. She was a very involved mother. She was in the PTA, a Boy Scout and Girl Scout leader, attended or kept stats at nearly every horse show, sporting event, etc., that her children participated in. To be fair, RJ might have cherished her animals more than her kids. She loved her schnauzers and kitties. They were spoiled beyond measure.
RJ retired from the accounting department at Textron Aerostructures at 65. She went on to have a 20-year career at H&R Block in both Hermitage and Mount Juliet and then retired, for a second time, at 85 years old.
For her 69th birthday, RJ went skydiving - something she never got the opportunity to do with her husband, Jim, before he passed. She left that perfectly good airplane with a huge smile on her face and not a fear in the world! Every Sunday during football season, the Tennessee Titans were on her television, and she followed the Titans coaches’ shows. Her knowledge of the game was strong too! She loved her Vanderbilt Commodores and her second favorite team, Texas A&M.
She is survived by her children, Janis Poss (Barry), Mike Lowry, Pat Lowry (Dawna), Ben Lowry (Kathryn), 11 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren, numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and the many other kids she loved and helped raise.
Rubye Jean loved her family unconditionally and was proud of their accomplishments. She was always there to lend a hand, listen or to let you know you were loved. Her family was blessed to have her nearly 93 years, but we are broken-hearted with her passing. We all feel some comfort knowing she is in a better place with the love of her life, Jim.
The family would like to extend a special thanks to Cathy Denton. Cathy started out nearly 3 years ago as RJ’s caregiver but quickly became family. Cathy’s love and caring allowed RJ to live out her finals years as she wanted, from her home. Cathy is truly a blessing.
A Gathering of Family & Friends for Rubye will be held at the Hermitage Funeral Home on Friday, April 22, 2022 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM and Saturday, April 23, 2022 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM. A Celebration of Life will follow at 12:00 PM. Immediately following, Rubye will be laid to rest in the Garden of Peace at Hermitage Memorial Gardens.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests you make a tribute donation in Rubye’s name to Old Friends Dog Sanctuary, Mt. Juliet, Tennessee https://ofsds.app.neoncrm.com/ or to the animal humane society of your choice.
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