COLUMBIA – Helen Faye Lowrey, at the age of 100, passed away peacefully while sitting in her chair watching television on Monday, December 6, 2021, at Candlelight Lodge Assisted Living in Columbia, Missouri.
Helen was born at the family home on their farm in Dawn, Missouri, on September 13, 1921, the daughter of Otto and Leslie Mae (Paul) Stark. Helen attended school at Green Wood School and graduated from Dawn High School in 1939, where she was a great basketball player. She was married for 68 years to Albert Lowrey. Helen was a wonderful wife, mother, and grandmother, who was full of energy and life, and had no problem keeping up with her family! She just celebrated her 100th birthday with a celebration like no other; the room was full of family and friends as they joined together for a meal and of course cake, and to share memories. Helen enjoyed this special time with everyone. She and Albert were partners in life as well as in business.You see, they owned and operated Lowrey and Stark General Store in Dawn, Missouri from 1939 until 1976. The 38 years seemed to fly by as she never thought getting to know the customers and visiting with them to be work. Helen absolutely loved it when she was called in for jury duty, an important role she took very seriously. She also liked working at the election polls and rarely missed being there whenever she was called upon to help. Helen liked watching her grandchildren participate in sports, and whatever else they were involved in, she was always there cheering them on. She was quite the competitive bingo player at Candlelight Lodge, but mostly she liked visiting with the other residents and the staff, who are very saddened by her passing. Helen could sit for countless hours picking out walnuts that she liked giving away. She was an extremely good cook who could make anything taste amazing, but her family thinks no one else could make gravy like she could, with positively no lumps! She was a devout Christian who belonged to the Dawn Baptist Church, and over the years she helped serve many bereavement meals and had been on many committees. Helen was a lifetime member and volunteer of Hedrick Hospital Auxiliary, Chillicothe, Missouri.
This special woman leaves her family to mourn her loss and cherish her memory, but also to celebrate that she had a life well lived and is with God, her husband, family, and friends in her heavenly home. She is survived by her son, Gary Lowrey and wife Cheryl, of Harrisburg, Missouri; four grandchildren, Todd Lowrey and wife Julie, Troy Lowrey, Lori McCombs and husband Bill, and Chad Sample and wife Tonya; five great-grandchildren, Jaci Lowrey, Alexis Sampsel, Dalton Sampsel, Hailey Lowrey, and Colton Lowrey; and one son-in-law, Charles Sampsel of Lake Ozark, Missouri.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Otto and Leslie Stark; her daughter, Wanda Joyce Bell; her brother, Edwin Stark; and son-in-law, Dr. Robert Bell.
Graveside Services will be held at 2:00 p.m., on Friday, December 10, 2021, at Enon Cemetery, Dawn, Missouri, with Reverend Bob Kimmis officiating.
For those who would like to make a memorial contribution, the family respectfully suggests they be made to Enon Cemetery. They may be left at or mailed to Bittiker Funeral Home, P.O. Box 223, Carrollton, Missouri, 64633.
Please share your condolences with the family by visiting www.bittikerfuneralhomes.com and click on the obituaries link.
