Joe Don Lowe, Sr., age 89, son of William Edward and Thelma (Read) Lowe was born July 9, 1930 in Hornersville, Mo. He passed away Oct. 12, 2019, at Texas County Memorial Hospital, Houston, Mo.
Joe Don is preceded in death by his parents, his wife of 58 years, Naomi Yvonne (Smith) Lowe; his sister, Billy Francis (Lowe) Fitzwater; and his brother, Tommy Lowe.
He is survived by his son, Joe Don Lowe, Jr. of Austin, Texas; his grandsons, Michael (Mick), Kirk, Nathan and Desmond of Austin, Texas, and Clint of Grand Prairie, Texas; three great-grandsons, Kelton, Blake and Zachary Lowe; one great-granddaughter, Avery; and his sister-in-law, Jo Etta Greathouse of Houston, Mo.
Other family members include Misty (Lowe) Watson of St. James, Mo., Chris Lowe of Cabool, Mo., Thor Kakar of Boston, Mass., and Elizabeth Castleman of Bucyrus, Mo.
Joe Don grew up in the Missouri Bootheel and graduated from Holcomb High School in 1948.
After military service, he married Naomi Yvonne Smith on Nov. 16, 1953, and to this union one son was born.
He was a member of the Oak Hill Christian Church in Houston, Mo., where he coached both basketball and baseball.
Joe Don loved baseball from an early age. A huge Cardinals fan, baseball was his passion throughout his life. He played for the Fort Leonard Wood Hilltoppers, finishing second in the National Semipro Championships in 1952 and winning the title in 1953.
A very generous man, Joe Don and his wife fostered almost 30 children. He was proud to have taught at least 27 of them to drive. He was always looking for ways to help his family and friends and felt that God had given Him each day to enjoy and live for Him. He will be missed by all who knew and loved him.
Visitation is 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019 at Evans Funeral Home. Services are 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 18, 2019 at Oak Hill Christian Church with Don Crockett officiating. Burial was in Union Cemetery under the direction of Evans Funeral Home. Pallbearers were: Mick Lowe, Clint Lowe, Kirk Lowe, Nathan Lowe, Desmond Lowe and Kelton Lowe.
PAID