Doris E. Lowry, 90, of Grinnell, died Jan. 21, 2016, at St. Francis Manor in Grinnell.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, Jan. 26, at Grinnell United Methodist Church with Pastor David Crow officiating. Burial was in Hazelwood Cemetery in Grinnell. Memorial contributions may be directed to Grinnell Regional Hospice or Grinnell United Methodist Church.
Doris was born Oct. 11, 1925, in Grinnell, the daughter of Rolla J. and Agnes Christina Esler Whitaker. She was raised in the Oak Grove neighborhood and attended country school near her home. She was a 1943 graduate of Grinnell High School.
Feb. 10, 1949, she was united in marriage with Thomas C. Lowry at her parents’ home. The couple farmed in Sugar Creek Township near Searsboro. During this time, she also was employed for 26 years as a teller with the Poweshiek County National/Brenton Bank in Grinnell. Later, she directed activities and travels for the Classic Club through the bank. They moved to Seeland Park in Grinnell in 1990 to make their home.
Doris was a member of the Oak Grove and United Methodist Churches. She was active with the Grinnell Soroptimist Club, Blue Point Friendship Club, “Sit and Sip” Club, and for many years, she was a volunteer at Grinnell Regional Medical Center in surgery waiting. She enjoyed volunteering and being helpful. She enjoyed people and loved being with family and friends. Baking, preparing food, and hosting for others brought her great joy. She was known for her homemade noodles, pies, pecan rolls, and graham cracker cookies.
Survivors include three children, Terry (Linda) Lowry, Gary (Connie) Lowry, and Lori (Verlan) Vos, all of rural Searsboro; one sister, Margaret Morrison of Grinnell; eight grandchildren, Jennifer (Tim) Berger, Brian (Carrie) Lowry, Megan (James) Madden, Jason (Jen) Lowry, Brent Lowry, and Nate, Reid, and Libbie Vos; and 11 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Tom in 2001; and one brother, Harold in 1977.
