James William Lowery, Sr., age 86, of Arab, Alabama passed away on Thursday, July 16, 2020 at home after a brief illness.
Mr. Lowery was born September 8, 1933, in Birmingham, AL to James Willson and Inez Mitchell Lowery. On March 27, 1955, he married the love of his life, the former JoAnn McCormack, to whom he remained faithfully married to for 65 years. James spent part of his youth in Stillwater, MN before joining the United States Navy in 1953, where he spent four years serving his country. He moved his young family to the Scant City area of Arab in January, 1964, where he and his wife still reside. He joined Red Diamond Coffee Co., retiring in 1995 after 33 years. After retiring he worked part-time for several years at Stoney Mountain Golf Course. He loved his family and playing all sports with his children and the neighborhood children, and later with his grandchildren, and great grandchildren. He never stopped loving and playing with children.
His hobbies all revolved around sports, spending many years officiating baseball and football games all over north Alabama. Post retirement, he devoted all of his free time to playing golf with dear friends Buddy Kelsey, Doug Tanner, and the late Alex Oliver along with a host of others. He never missed watching his children participate in various sports and later took great pride in watching his grandchildren. Anyone who knew him knows he loved Alabama football. He and his wife were blessed to travel through five different continents. He was a member of New Friendship Baptist Church, where he served faithfully as a deacon and Sunday school teacher for many years, only recently retiring from his teaching duties. He loved serving his church family in this capacity.
Mr. Lowery will be forever remembered by his wife: JoAnn Lowery; Daughters: Linda Buchanan (James), Arab, and Dr. Lisa Lowery-Smith (Morgan), Chattanooga, Tn.; Son: James (Jim) William, Jr. (Denise), Hoover, AL; Grandchildren: Dr. Hannah Hightower (Brad), Zac Buchanan (Caroline), April Brasfield (Logan), Will Lowery (Marlo), and Elizabeth Reynolds (Bryce); Seven great-grandchildren: Maggie and George Hightower; Arthur Buchanan; Leo, Miller and Taylor Brasfield; Parker Lowery; Sister: Geraldine Howell, Clanton, Al ; Brother: Thomas Lowery, Ledbetter, TX.
The family will receive guests on Sunday, July 19, 2020, from 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm at New Friendship Baptist Church (2150 New Friendship Road Union Grove, AL 35175), followed immediately by a funeral service beginning at 3:00 pm with the Reverend John Tuck officiating. Eulogies will be given by Jim Lowery Jr., Zac Buchanan and Will Lowery.
Pallbearers escorting Mr. Lowery to his final resting place include: Zac Buchanan, Will Lowery, Brad Hightower, Logan Brasfield, Bryce Reynolds, and Mike McCormack.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to A-Team Ministries 1809 Oxmoor Road, Homewood, AL 35209 or Big Oak Ranch P.O. Box 507 Springville, AL 35146.
