Rita Cheryl McDonie Lowery, age 72, of Maylene, Alabama passed away on Saturday, January 15, 2022. Cheryl was born November 11, 1949 in Milton, West Virginia to Woodrow McDonie and Velma Weatherholt McDonie. One of seven children, Cheryl's family was poor, but rich in love. She recounted days spent fetching water at the spring, washing clothes on the washboard, sharing a bed with her siblings, long walks to and from school and sneaking past the neighbor's bull to eat apples off the tree in the pasture. She met her future husband, Junior, as a waitress at a Big Boy restaurant in Michigan, where she had moved to help her sister. They raised their family in Taylor, Michigan until 1995, when Junior retired from Chrysler Corp. to his native Shelby County, Alabama. She was known among friends and family for her country cooking and baking. She felt that God's gift to her was the ability to express her love through feeding others. Cheryl was a member of Maylene Lighthouse Pentacostal Church and was the faith leader of her family.
Her family is so grateful for her motherly prayers, unconditional support and teaching the word of God. Without a doubt, we know that we wouldn't be where we are today without her upbringing. We are comforted in the assurance that we will meet her and our father again.
Cheryl was preceded in death by her husband, James “Junior” Lester Lowery, Jr.; their adopted son, James David Lowery; brothers, Gary McDonie and John McDonie; sister, Rhonda Fisher; sisters-in-law, Mary Lou Farmer, Emma Jean Hucklebee, Jane Johnson and Tillie Ann Jones; and brothers-in-law, Bud Fisher, Auburn Farmer, Albert Hucklebee, Homer Johnson and Frank Jones. She is survived by her son, James Kevin Lowery of Maylene, AL; her daughter, Angela Mendoza (Elmer) of Tucker, GA; grandchildren, Katelyn and Jayden Mendoza; sister, Carolyn Raines (Jim) and Loretta Yates; brother, Oscar McDonie (Lois); and numerous nieces and nephews.
A visitation will be held Sunday, January 23, 2022 from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Rockco Funeral Home (Montevallo). The family encourages guests to follow COVID protocols, and masks and hand sanitizer will be available at the funeral home. A funeral service will occur Monday, January 24, 2022 at 11:00 AM at Maylene Pentacostal Lighthouse with burial to follow at Cedar Grove Cemetery. Pastor Pat Schatzline will officiate. Guests may view the service remotely via livestream at www.facebook.com/rockcofuneralhome.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.rockcofuneralmontevallo.com for the Lowery family.
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