Obituary: James Keith Lowery

James Keith Lowery, 90, of Oak Ridge, passed on to his heavenly home early Sunday morning, June 8, 2014.

He was born on June 27, 1923 in Morristown, Tenn., to the late Samuel Franklin Lowery Sr. and Ethel Florence Spears Lowery.

He graduated from Morristown East High School in 1943 and then came to Oak Ridge on December 27, 1943. He worked at K-25 gaseous diffusion plant in analytical chemistry. He also worked on pilot plants in industrial hygiene, in charge of field sampling. He was a recipient of the silver A bomb pin for 18 months of service. He retired in December 1989 after 46 years working at K-25.

On May 27, 1950, he married Helen Lucille Schultz from Talbott, Tenn. They had just celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary.

He was a longtime member of Glenwood Baptist Church.

He was a member of the Oak Ridge Lions Club for more than 50 years and was their president in 1965.

He served as Constable of Anderson County for 8 years and was active in the political life of Oak Ridge.

He was a diehard fan of the University of Tennessee Volunteers and longtime season ticket holder. He worked the gates as ticket taker for several years.

He loved his job, he loved Oak Ridge, and he loved his place in its history.

He always enjoyed telling stories about his life in the “Secret City” and on several occasions was interviewed about his experiences, some of which were recorded for documentaries and used for historical accounts about the history of Oak Ridge.

In his earlier years, he enjoyed fishing and hunting, and in later years researching his family genealogy.

He was preceded in death by his brother Samuel Franklin Lowery Jr. and his daughter Rita Lowery Anderson.

He is survived by his wife Helen; daughter Sandra Lowery Boldu and her husband Jose Luis; grandaughters Elena Boldu-Lowery and Aislin Kate Anderson; son-in-law Bill Anderson; step-grandchildren Jennifer-Dove Anderson McLeod and her husband Jay, and David Anthony Wayne Anderson; and step-great-grandson Walden McLeod; as well as several beloved nieces and nephews.

We would like to thank the wonderful and loving team from The Home Option, who cared for him the past few months and became a part of our family. We would also like to thank Amedysis for their respectful hospice care. A very special thanks to Neva Morann.

Funeral services will take place at Martin Oak Ridge Funeral Home on Thursday, June 12, at 7 p.m. officiated by Pastor Mark Walton. Burial will be held at Oak Ridge Memorial Park on Friday, June 13, at 1 p.m. The family will receive friends prior to the service from 5 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made out to Glenwood Baptist Church, Oak Ridge Parkinson group, or the Oak Ridge Lions Club.