Nov 11, 1944 - June 1, 2014
Gary L. Lowry, 69, died unexpectedly on June 1, 2014, while visiting friends in Fairfax, Iowa. Gary was born November 11, 1944, in New Ulm, MN to Frank Elmer Lowry and Alice Minnie Loose. He spent the better part of his formative years growing up as the youngest of six children and attending school and church at First Evangelical Lutheran located in La Crosse, Wi. He enlisted into the United States Marine Corps on December 29, 1961, where attained the rank of Corporal and received “Expert” on Rifle, and “Sharpshooter” on Pistol. He was a rifleman, sniper and shooting coach during his enlistment, and was a Vietnam era veteran. 1n 1966, after five years of service, he was honorably discharged in Hawthorne, Nevada and had been decorated with Good Conduct, Expeditionary, National Defense and Vietnam Service medals. He married Linda Gail Barker, a resident of Hawthorne, NV, in 1966 and became a father in June 1969, to his only daughter, Karen Lynnette Lowry (Best). He was divorced in 1974. He remained working for the military as a civilian munitions handler and later became a Quality Assurance Munitions Inspector. In 1980, he transferred to Pueblo, CO for approximately 10 years, then transferred to Sierra Army Depot in Herlong, CA where retired on a medical disability in 1996, after 35 years of government service. In 2005, he moved back to Nevada where he rekindled his relationship with his daughter and developed much love for his only granddaughter, Tyra Best. Gary was extremely active in the Marine Corps League Silver State Detachment #630, where he held the position of Jr. Vice Commandant. He was a member of the Vietnam Veterans of America #338, also of Carson City, and the American Legion Hawthorne Post. Gary was an avid outdoorsman enjoying off-roading, hunting, fishing and shooting sports. He worked throughout his life to help protect and preserve various habitats for future generations and enjoyed teaching responsible hunter safety and gun ownership to both children and adults. Gary was preceded in death by his father, Frank Elmer Lowry (1952) and Mother, Alice Minnie Lowry (1976), as well as his only brother Frank Lowry of Howard Lake, MN and sister, Jean Tolvstad of La Crosse. He is survived by his remaining sisters, Carol Lowry of West Salem, WI; Joyce Henschel of Clinton, IA; and Maureen Longcor of West Salem, WI. His daughter, Karen L. Best of Wellington, NV; Grand-Daughter, Tyra K. Best, of Wellington, NV and many nieces and nephews scattered throughout Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa. Internment services with military honors for Mr. Gary L. Lowry will be July 2, 2014 at 11:00am at the Northern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Fernley, NV. Donations to the Douglas County 4H Science Project or 4H Shooting Sports Project, P.O. Box 338, Minden, NV 89444, OR the Marine Corps League, Silver State Detachment #630, Carson City, NV would be greatly appreciated.
