Mark's Dad Passes Away

On Monday, June 10 Betsy received a phone call from Kevin, Mark's brother around 5:30 pm.  He called to say Howard had passed away.  Before he told me I was at first thinking he was calling about preparations for the Family Reunion coming up in July, or that something bad had happened with Shauna's (his wife's) health, but it was Mark's dad.  Mark's phone had lost battery power so Mark was without a phone over the weekend - actually until Thursday, so that is why Kevin had to call me instead calling directly to Mark.  The timing was complicated.  Mark's brother was in Hawaii, and Robert and Devon were away on the high adventure in the middle of Missouri (8 hrs away) and Marissa was away at Young Women's camp in Southern Kentucky ... so the family decided to wait for everyone to get back before holding the funeral services.  

We weren't going to tell any of the kids so they could focus on their activities, etc., except that some of the older nieces and siblings started posting on Facebook and Instagram so Mark and I knew we needed to contact Marissa to let her know what had happened before she saw it on Facebook or Instagram (which we knew she would).  The boys were mostly unreachable the duration of the trip and neither of them have much of an interest in Facebook and neither has an Instagram account so we decided not to tell the boys until they returned on Friday. 

It will be expensive but we decided to take all the children to the funeral, since Mark was the only one to attend his Mother's (the kids were so small), and since each of them had a personal relationship with their grandpa.  We knew it would be important for them to say goodbye.  It would also be nice for them to be together with their nieces and nephews.  

Kevin and Linda did the planning of the services - both viewing and funeral.  Mark will be one of the speakers, Betsy will conduct the music and Devon and Robert will be paul bearers (the grandsons or husbands of granddaughters).

Saturday morning everyone got up and finished preparations for our flights.  We flew from Louisville to Charlotte, NC to Las Vegas, NV.  There we rented a car and drove to St. George, UT.  It was after 11:00 pm when we arrived (1 am our time).  We stayed at the Town Place - very nice.

On Sunday, we all attended church in Dad and Kevin's ward.  It was nice to be there again.  It used to be our ward nearly 11 years ago.  Devon was reunited with his 2nd grade teacher, Mrs. Jerri Alldredge.   Sister Alldredge was also one of grandma Lowe's best friends.  She spoke at Devon's baptism - it was very inspired and guided and directed Devon in many ways throughout his growing years.

Devon with Ms. Alldredge

After church we all ate a quick lunch before the adults had a meeting about Dad's will and trust, etc.  Brian Lowe, Howard's cousin from Las Vegas was dad's lawyer so everything was very well done and complete.  He was very helpful in explaining the documents and necessary items that need to be done.  Mark and Jordan are the executers of the will.  They had a lot of work to complete.

From there we picked up the kids and went to the Metcalfe Mortuary for Grandpa Lowe's viewing from 6:00 - 8:00 pm.   We were all there to support dad and his siblings, Kevin, Linda, Jordan, and Alan.  

Marissa, Mark, Robert, Devon and Betsy - 6/2013

With it being 2 hours long, the cousins were able to have some time to get reacquainted with each other.  Gary and Brian are brothers, son's of Kevin - they talked with Devon for a long time.

Talking with Brian and Gary Lowe

Around 7:00 Brittney, Chad, Brenda and some of the cousins decided to go to Iceberg (Ice cream place) to get milkshakes.  They were very nice and brought back a cone in a cup for me and another one for Mark.  Mark was busy inside so I went outside with Marissa to enjoy the evening sunshine and eat my HUGE ice cream cone ... then I had to eat Mark's too, because it would have totally melted by the time he could come.

Betsy eating her ice cream - it was a nice relief

 After the viewing everyone changed and went over to the Fairfield Inn where some of us were staying.  The kids played cards and reconnected and we ate pizza.  The next morning was the funeral.  It was held at the chapel.  There was a viewing from 9:30 - 10:30 am and then a Family Prayer lead by Jordan Lowe before the funeral starting at 11:00 am.

Jordan, Alan, Linda, Mark and Kevin Monday morning

Robert, Marissa and Devon on Monday

The grandsons and husbands of granddaughters wore Aloha shirts in honor of Howard.  He loved wearing Aloha shirts and wore one almost every day for the past 47 years.

Betsy and Mark

Betsy and Marissa 

All the family

Michelle Lowe (Jordan's wife) with Chase - Landon and Faith's son
She is a grandma

Kevin spoke first about Howard's early years, then Linda about his teen/dating years, Jordan followed with his years at BYU/Marriage and early married years.  Alan spoke about the years in Iran and Mark finished with his years in Hawaii.  Kathy sang in his honor.  It was a beautiful service.  Everyone was happy that Howard was at last reunited with his wife after 11 years of living without her.

After the service we drove out to the cemetery for the burial.  Don Hatch, Robert Lowe, Jeremy Twitchell, Jordan Weaver, Devon Lowe, Landon Lowe, Gary Lowe and Brian Lowe were the paul bearers.

Mark Lowe did the grave dedication prayer and then we had our special time to say good-bye for the last time.

Paul Bearers bringing in the casket

Mark, Alan, Linda, Kevin, Jordan

Linda Weaver with Garrett and Shannon

Mark with Betsy, Devon, Marissa and Robert

Cathy with Jeremy, Krew and Keagan

Brenda with Don, Brody and Capri

Gary and Diana Lowe

the flowers were beautiful

Mark, Devon and Robert together - the Lowe boys!

Precious  moment - Mark and Kevin

Howard left a legacy of values, principals and character in each of his children and now his posterity carries those traits and passes them onto their posterity.  Mark cherishes the lessons his dad taught him, through his dad's experiences and through the lessons and values he instilled in Mark as a boy - they remain strong to this day.  Mark hopes his children will hold true to the same values and character traits that Howard so dearly exemplified:  integrity, intelligence, honesty, thrifty, courageous, cautious, charitable and always faithful.