Verda Lowry

Verda Lowry, 86, of Missoula, died Sunday, Feb. 27, 2005, at her daughter's home in Libby.

She was born on Feb. 5, 1919, at Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, to Marcellus Anderson Lowry and Rose Bell Wood Lowry.

Verda grew up on a ranch in southern Alberta and was an expert horsewoman. She was very athletic as a young woman and spent summers swimming in the streams and winters ice skating on the ponds.

Verda married Cryil Lowry on Oct. 12, 1935 at Fort Macleod, Alberta.

They enjoyed playing cards and square dancing.

Verda devoted her life to family, cooking and sewing, always there when needed. A specialty was making flannel baby gowns.

She also loved to play the piano and would sit and play and sing Christmas carols.

Her home was always open to anyone needing a place to stay. Family gatherings always included lots of homemade food and fun and games with Verda right in the middle of the activities.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Cryil, and son Leon Kent Lowry.

Survivors include son and daughter-in-law Gary and Marie Lowry, Great Falls; daughter and son-in-law Judy and Leo Kern of Missoula; son and daughter-in-law Gordon and Ann Lowry, Missoula and Florida; daughter and son-in-law Karen and Bill Stine, Libby; Cheryl and Ron Stern of Libby; and son and daughter-in-law Bob and LiMeng Lowry in New Zealand; son and daughter-in-law Don and Pum Lowry, Missoula; sons Randy Lowry of Seattle and Larry Lowry, Helena, sister Viola Oleson in Utah, and special family friend Anna Plaster, Missoula.

She is also survived by 29 grandchildren and 55 great-grandchildren.

Viewing for family and friends will take place on Friday, March 4, from 6-8 p.m., at Garden City Funeral Home.

Services will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 5, at the Church of Jesus Christ and Latter-day Saints at the First Ward Building on Bancroft in Missoula.

Viewing at the church that morning is from 10-10:45 a.m.

Interment will be at Sunset Memorial Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Cyril and Verda's sons, Gary, Gordon, Bob, Don, Randy and Larry.