Shirley Lowe

Born on March 29, 1928 to Floyd Willard and Reta Titus Dalton in Grace, Idaho, Shirley passed away at her home on October 20, 2016. Survived by her husband of 65 years, Newton Lowe, children Nancy (Ben) Coffin, John (Mel Martin) Lowe, Kim (Dana) Koehler, Leslie (Steve) Johnson, Michelle (Greg Williams) Rowe, and Mark (Lorrie) Lowe, 17 grandchildren, 26 great grandkids and 2 great - great grandchildren.

She was raised in Grace, McCammon and Lava Hot Springs, graduating from Lava Hot Springs High School where she was a cheer leader. She developed a terrific work ethic in her father's grocery store and instilled it in her children as they grew. Many a time they heard about how it was done "when you worked for Floyd Dalton". A child of the Great Depression, the value of hard work and frugal living were a way of life she never forgot. In her younger years, Shirley played the piano in her dad's dance band entertaining people throughout the area.

She and Jack Potter were married shortly after graduating high school. They had two children, Nancy and John. They later divorced. She married Newt Lowe in 1951, living their entire married life in Lava Hot Springs. Newt and Shirley had four children with Newt adopting Nancy and John making the family one.

She was a homemaker in the truest sense of the word, cooking from scratch, sewing and baking to keep the family clothed and fed. The smell of freshly baked bread was the aroma of the Lowe house. Shirley was an avid outdoorsman, gardener, enigmatologist, fisherman, camper and hummingbird enthusiast but most of all, she was a loving wife and caring mother. Her command of the household earned her the affectionate nickname of ‘General Bullmoose' which she wore proudly.

She and Newt were the hardworking owners of the apartment building originally built as Dr. Rich's hospital, living there after downsizing when the kids moved out. Later, they sold the apartments and moved to their current home a couple of blocks away. She passed away within sight of her childhood home.

After the kids were raised and out of the house, she and Newt began their second life as retirees spending their free time camping and fishing – especially fishing. They made two trips to Alaska and her home away from home was their fifth wheel camp trailer where everything was neat, orderly and had a purpose. Kids and grandkids all spent hours playing cards and board games with Grandma.

Her reputation as a cook grew when she supplied any and all with breakfasts of bacon, eggs and pancakes in elk camp. Dutch oven cooking was a forte long before it became fashionable.
Developing macular degeneration in her later years did little to slow her down. Always an avid reader, she switched to audio books from the Commission for the Blind. Special thanks to April for keeping her in the latest technology. She surfed the ‘Net, kept the household books and maintained her cooking and gardening activities on full speed. She swam five days a week with her buddy Linda inspiring those around her to keep going through whatever adversity they might encounter.

She detested going to funerals and did not want to go to her own. Keeping with her wishes, a memorial open house will be held from 1-3 pm on Saturday November 5, 2016 at the Greystone Manor in Lava. Refreshments will be served as those who attend share their thoughts and memories.

Friends and family will gather again on June 3, 2017 to scatter her ashes at her favorite camping site on McCoy Creek.