J. Bryan Lowry Jr. (Junior) 95, passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones on April 26, 2024.

He was born on February 7, 1929 to Vera Irene and J. Bryan Lowry, Sr., the fifth of seven children and was affectionately known as Junior Lowry by his friends and family.  When Junior was 12 years old, his family moved from Waxahachie to Bardwell where he attended school and graduated from Bardwell High School in 1946.

Junior served in the US Army 2nd Infantry Division during the Korean War from 1951-1953 as a Forward Observer in the combat zone for over 9 months.  While he was reluctant to share his wartime experiences, you could always count on a long diatribe about how cold the winters were in Korea, and all the ways that he and his "brothers" figured out to stay warm.

When he returned from Korea, Junior did various farming and ranching jobs, in and around Bardwell, and eventually went in with "Hap" Manning to buy and operate a service station serving the Bardwell community.  On December 23, 1955, Junior married Brucene Watson, whom he had known for many years, and loved for many reasons, but mainly because "she could make good gravy that wasn't lumpy!"  They started their family shortly thereafter, having three children, whom they raised in Bardwell.  It was during their early marriage that Junior went to work for the City of Dallas Wastewater Division, starting out as a surveyor and working his way up to Plant Manager of the Southside Wastewater Treatment Plant.  He retired from the City of Dallas after 30 years and returned to his roots of farming and ranching.  He faithfully served as Mayor of Bardwell, for several terms, well into his eighties.  He was a member of First Baptist Church of Bardwell.  He was also a member of the Masonic Lodge for over 73 years, having joined as a young man in Bardwell Lodge #1054, which later merged with Chambers Creek Lodge #499.

Junior is preceded in death by his wife of 55 years Brucene Lowry, parents J. Bryan Sr. and Vera Irene Lowry, mother and father-in-law Arthur D. and Georgia P. Watson, brothers James E. Lowry, Andrew T. Lowry, and Calvin V. Lowry, sisters Marjorie Jo Early, Louise Lowry, and Bonnie Lowry, brothers-in-law Bill Early, Dr. Forrest E. Watson, and Connie Wylie, sisters-in-law Irene Lowry, Dianne Watson, Eva Lowry, Jimmie Ruth Lowry, and Rita Watson.

He is survived by his children, Sandra Lowry, Joe Lowry (Patty), and Tammie Castillo (Edward), ten grandchildren, fifteen great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren, sister-in-law, Sylvia Sallee, brothers-in-law David Watson, Greg Sallee, nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, grand-nephews, cousins and numerous other relatives and friends.

He will be deeply missed by his family and all who knew and loved him.  He leaves behind a legacy of love, service, and integrity that will continue to inspire generations to come.  He invested a lot of himself in all those he loved and enjoyed lecturing in the form of storytelling.  One of his only regrets in life is that he failed to produce a red-headed heir!

The Lowry family wishes to express their gratitude to Traditions Home Health Care, Traditions Hospice Care, and the Methodist Hospitals in Midlothian and Dallas Beckley for their professional and loving care of our father.  We also extend our heartfelt appreciation to his close friends, Joe and Elaine Poole, Garland and Cindy Marshall, Larry and Jeannette Gilbert and Larry Martin for their unwavering support.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, from 6pm to 8pm at JE Keever Mortuary of Ennis.

Services will be held on Thursday, May 2, 2024, at 10am in the JE Keever Mortuary Chapel in Ennis with Brother Eddie Ballard officiating.

Pallbearers will be: Raymond Meredith, GW Hanson, Matthew Wood, Eli Lowry, Abel Lowry, Cade Lowry, Michael Yrlas, Stevie Castillo, with honorary pallbearers: Payton Arciba, Kaleb J. Bryan Yrlas, Jack Lowry, Blake Lowry, and Benjamin Erdman.

Interment will follow in Elm Branch Cemetery, Bardwell, Texas ( directions from funeral home, click here ) under the direction of J.E. Keever Mortuary, Inc

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to your charity of choice.