Phyllis Marie Lowery 64 was born in Appalachia, VA on May 31, 1949. She entered into God’s Mighty Kingdom on April 24, 2014.She was the daughter of “Jim” James C. Lowery & Edna Arizona Seale Lowery of Dogwood Rd., Grandview, Tennessee. She was the granddaughter of Paris Seale Sr. & Minerva Elizabeth Bare Seale of Caywood Rd. Spring City, Tennessee and the granddaughter of John Wesley Lowery & Susan Elizabeth Griever Lowery of Dogwood Rd. Grandview, Tennessee. She was the sister of Minerva Joyce Lowery Hendrickson of Dogwood Rd., Grandview, Tennessee/ Pinewood Dr. Crossville, Tennessee, and ”Jimmy & Tiny”, James Jackson Lowery , USAF , Norita/Tokyo Japan. She was the “Aunt” of Stanley Hendrickson, Dogwood Rd., Grandview, Tennessee/ Baxter, Tennessee. She was preceded in death by all of the above mentioned.
Phyllis is survived by her Sister Gaynell Lowery, Crossville, TN; three daughters: Pam Hendrickson Steyn-Melhorn (Biological Niece) & Bob Melhorn, Crossville, TN, Lisa Marie Lowery, address unknown, Nicole “Nickel” Marie Lowery, Crossville, TN; two grandsons. Dalton Ray Lowery, address unknown. Joshua Linden Steyn, Crossville, TN; Nephew, James “Jim” Yates, Crossville, TN; Aunt Violet Marie Seale Toomey, Spring City, TN; nieces:Donna Cook Allen Yates of Crossville, TN, and Kim Kirby Johnson of Crossville, TN; great niece: Darlene Elaine Hendrixson of Rockwood, TN; great-great nieces: Mylie Raven Bailey of Rockwood, TN, Leah Allen of Chicago, IL, Betty Kay Johnson of Crossville, TN; great-great nephews: Donald Kirby of Crossville, TN, Travis Johnson, of Crossville, TN; extended family at Hilltoppers, INC.; other great great nieces and nephews names and addresses unavailable; many cousins, and many many other loyal and dedicated friends and colleagues.
Phyllis, along with her sister, Gaynell were the original owners of “The Bookworm”, located originally in Homestead, Tennessee in 1971 and eventually relocating to downtown Crossville in 1981. The business was sold in 1986 and now is known as “The Book Cellar”.
Phyllis began her career with Hilltoppers, Inc. January 1980 where she flourished and gained Excellency in all she did. She was the Women’s Group Home Manager for many years and then became the Program Director for the Medicaid Waiver Program for the Elderly in which she was responsible for founding and implementing with the Agency. This program was designed to allow mentally/physically handicapped elderly adults to reside in the community in a real home setting and not become institutionalized in a concrete building or ward in Nashville, Tennessee or better yet, who know’s where?! While maintaining her joy with Hilltopper’s she knew deep within there was more of God’s work for her to pursue. She was a Foster parent for Cumberland County & The State of Tennessee for 25 plus years. Phyllis was a firm believer that everyone needed a chance but most especially children and those who could not care for themselves. Phyllis cared for many, many children who were troubled, handicapped, abused or even greater, simply not wanted. Phyllis had a way of comforting in a way that is very rare and possessed by very few. Simply, God had blessed her with a very special gift! It made no difference whether you were her natural blood line or not, she loved everyone just the same; Phyllis adopted three of which she had cared for. She was very sincere and critical in all her tasks and her achievements were many. The greatest of them being her family that she had made the choice to secure. Phyllis became very ill in 2008 battling Cervical & Uterine Cancer thus requiring her to retire in 2010 from a 30 year career at Hilltopper’s. Though Phyllis retired she never gave up. She was as active in the community as her physical condition would allow and always caring for her children and her grandchildren. They were the loves of her life, just as she was theirs. Phyllis will be greatly missed by all those who ever made her acquaintance.
Her funeral arrangements were with Crossville Memorial Funeral Home 2653 N Main St. Crossville, Tennessee.
Visitation was held on Friday April 25, 2014 from 6:00-9:00 pm. A memorial service was held at 1:00 PM on Saturday April 26, 2014 with the procession going to Spring City Cemetery for interment. Her cousin, Michael Lowery did officiate the service.
In lieu of flowers please make donations in Phyllis Lowery’s name to Hilltoppers or House of Hope.