Helen E. Eschenbrenner Lowery

Helen E. Lowery, 86, beloved wife, mother, Nanny, Great-Nanny, and sister, passed away on October 29, 2010. Her family was by her side with love and support throughout her life. Helen was born on June 18, 1924 in Jersey City, New Jersey to Mary Ellen (Mae) Kelly and Charles Eschenbrenner. On September 23, 1941 Helen became the WWII bride of John W. (Jack) Lowery, who served overseas in the U.S. Army Air Corps. In 1951 they moved from New Jersey to Burnet, Texas, where Jack worked as Vice President and General Manager of the Southwestern Graphite Company. Helen was a devout Catholic, serving as church historian, office secretary, and as a member of the Altar Society for Our Mother of Sorrows Catholic Church in Burnet. She served as an Election Judge for Burnet County and volunteered her time for La Care. Helen loved to garden, dance, sew, golf, play bridge, and took up painting later in life. For over 40 years she spent Monday afternoons with a special group of friends playing cards, while sharing life together with laughter. She cherished those days.

Helen is preceded in death by her husband of 48 years, mother, father, brothers Charles, Eugene, and Joseph, and sisters Mary, Margaret, Dorothy, Geraldine, and Marion. She is survived by her daughter Lorraine Haby and husband Jack of Kerrville; son John W. Lowery, Jr. and wife Emilia of Miami, FL; daughter Mary Ellen Fariss and husband Craig of Burnet; daughter Trudy Hawthorne and husband Kelly of Liberty Hill; granddaughters Cathy Kuehne and husband Mike of Lampasas, Meredith Hart and husband Wesley of Georgetown, and Kate Hawthorne of Leander; grandsons Bobby Jack Haby of Austin, and Matt Hawthorne of San Angelo; great-grandchildren Josh and Lindsey Kuehne, and Payton and Sadie Hart. She is also survived by her brother, Bill Eschenbrenner of Tom's River, NJ, and sister Kay Purvin of Seaside Park, NJ; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.

Pallbearers are Jack Haby, Craig Fariss, Kelly Hawthorne, Bobby Jack Haby, Matt Hawthorne, and Josh Kuehne. Honorary pallbearers are Ramsey Clinton, John Cox, Gene Eddings, Ted Everett, Ray Frady, Alvin Nored, Dr. John Sandner and Robert Wilkin. The family would like to thank all the doctors, nurses, and staff at Seton Highland Lakes and Cornerstone Hospital in Austin. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Herman Brown Free Library, 100 E. Washington, Burnet, Texas, 78611; Catholic Charities of Central Texas (www.ccctx.org); or a charity of your choice.

Visitation will be held at 6:00 P.M. Tuesday, November 2, 2010 at Clements Wilcox Funeral Home with Rosary following at 7:00 P.M. The funeral service will be held Wednesday, November 3, 2010 at Our Mother of Sorrows Catholic Church in Burnet. Interment will follow at Lakeland Hills Memorial Park.

Condolences may be offered and register book signed by visiting www.clementswilcoxburnet.com.