Hazel Irene (Spear) Lowery

February 13, 1929 - September 21, 2020

Mama has entered Eternity. She is not suffering anymore and her joy is everlasting. We are all going to miss her greatly! Mama was always willing to help anyone who needed it, never turning down aid to anyone.

Her great love was always gardening. Much like her mother she could get anything to grow and thrive. When returning from all her driving trips she would always have snippets of plants she had acquired either from friends, family, or by knocking on the doors of strangers, asking if she could have a cutting of whatever had caught her eye. She met a lot of people that way.

Most of our friends when growing up would call her Mom, some feeling more at home at our house than their own. Some, after warm greetings, would even check out the contents of the refrigerator like they would at home. Mama was always warm, welcoming, ready to feed everyone. She had a great sense of humor and was loads of fun.

She taught us the value of hard work and how important family and friends were. She spent over 25 years as a cashier at Liberty Supermarket, most of those years at their downtown location across the street from Jim Burke Buick. One of her duties was teaching the sackers the correct way to bag groceries. She would first ask the customer if she could train them on their order, with their permission the training commenced. She watched and if it had not been done correctly according to her instructions she would empty the bag and make them do it again. We’re pretty sure she was not one of their favorite people, but we’re confident those young men learned some important life lessons.

Mama had been a member of the Order of the Eastern Star at the Gardendale Lodge and had held the position of the fifth point of the star known as Electa, who is the mother of the Second Epistle of John. Her color is red, and her cardinal virtue is patience. She is often associated with autumn. Her symbol is the cup, a representation of charity and hospitality. That fit Mama to a T.

She was proceeded in death by her parents, Grace Irene (Hester) Spear and James Hershel Spear, her siblings, Harold Nelson Spear (Jane), Helen Louise (Spear) Howell (Dan), Howard Wilson Spear (Juanita), her husband Carl Eugene Lowery, her granddaughters Karen Denise Lowery and Tonya Lea Brewer and by her grandson James Earl Lowery and great granddaughter Rebecca Ann Brewer.

Those left to cherish her memory are her Children: Linda Lowery Brewer (Roy), Warren Wesley Lowery (Deborah), James Eugene Lowery and loving daughter from another mother and devoted Caregiver, Linda Marie Richards Lowery. Grandchildren: Roy Edward “Ted” Brewer III, Elizabeth Rose Layton, Mac Crane (Keri) Jaime Engbrock (Eric) Sarah Samuels (William), James Carl Lowery, Kinisha Britton (Mike), Vic Baggett (Jenneifer), and Cheryl Morrow. Great Grandchildren: Kayleigh Harless (Cameron), Amber McCumsey, Grace Giglio, Kate Brewer, Jonathan Brewer, Jordan Crane, Madison Crane, Christopher Badgett, Hannah Woodard, Brantley Samuels, McKenzie Fitzgerald, Michael Lowery, Michael Baggett, Alex Hulgan, Chole Hulgan, Jordan Lowery, Colby Lowery, Ma’kayla Lowery, Dustin King, Mackenzie Britton, and Fisher Britton. Great-Great Grandchildren: Aubrie James, Ezra Harless, Søren Harless, Rhett Harless, Lorelei Harless, Leana Mobley, Oliver McCumsey, Attycus Marczewski, Zoey Marczewski, and Stella Giglio.

Celebration of Life Services will be held at Ridout’s Gardendale Chapel, Gardendale, AL. A time of visitation for Hazel will be held Thursday, September 24, 2020 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. A funeral service will occur Friday, September 25, 2020 at 11:00 AM with visitation one hour prior. Her burial will follow at Shelby Garden of Rest, 11 Huntwood Road, Shelby, Alabama 35143.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.ridoutsgardendalechapel.com for the Lowery family.