Margie Velna Lowrance

Margie Velna Lowrance Margie V. Lowrance passed from this world Wednesday, August 17 at Presbyterian Hospital, Matthews NC following several years of declining health. She was born July 21, 1921 to Burton and Maggie Lowrance of Cornelius NC. She was the youngest daughter of 9 children, all of whom have predeceased her. Her sisters were Minnie Lemmond, Crosby Fisher and Lillie Mae Lowrance. Her brothers were Walter Torrence, Belvie, Bill, Mason and Hugh Lowrance. Also deceased are nephews Charles Fisher, Michael, Dean, and Bill Lowrance Jr. She is survived by sisters-in-law Jean Knox Lowrance and Mildred Little Lowrance; as well as beloved nephews Ward Lowrance (Judy), Mason Arlington Lowrance JR, Hugh Lowrance JR. (Sally), Stephen Lowrance (Sherry), and Robbie Lowrance; and precious nieces Sue Lemmond Helms (Jerry), Dawn Lowrance Williams (Roland), Jennifer Lowrance Waskey, Patricia Lowrance Richards (Tom), Sylvia Lowrance Garton (Randy), Mary Lowrance (Shawn Johnson) and niece in-law Carolyn Lowrance (Bill). There are 25 great nieces and nephews and 22 great grand nieces and nephews. Of over 70 first cousins, Margaret White Harrison, Perry White and Howard White survive her. She is also survived by her long time friend/partner/caregiver of 48 years, Nancy Johnson. Margie was totally devoted to her family. Each had a special relationship with her over the years. Some statements follow from family, friends and professional colleagues. All of us could feel her love and we all knew that she was so deeply interested in each of us. She was always focused only on us, as she would talk to us about our life, our wants, and our dreams. She only had words of encouragement for us. She contributed so much to so many people with her intelligence, her advice, and caring ways. She gave me so much advice over the years about teaching and working with my students and family. She had such a sense of humor. Auntie Margie was a rich, rich soul - full of life - full of wisdom - generous, ingenious, thoughtful, beautiful, funny, funny, funny. She was grounded. She knew her value. She shared and influenced, enhanced, and changed the lives of those who knew her. Miss Lowrance was a member of the 1938 graduating class of Cornelius High School. She graduated from Berry College, Mt Berry, GA with a BS degree in Home Economics Education in 1943, taking her first teaching position as a home economics teacher at Oakhurst High School, Charlotte. She studied on a Rockefeller Foundation Grant and received her MS degree from the University of TN, Knoxville in Public Health Nutrition in 1947. Following the advanced degree she taught at Berry College, Carrabelle and Pinellas County Florida before moving to Olympia, Washington where she was a program specialist for Home and Family Life Education in the Office of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction from 1961 until her retirement in 1986. She was a consummate educator gaining respect from students, teachers and school administrators. One of her passions was working in the development of student leaders through the Future Homemakers of America. (Now Family Career and Community Leaders of America). She was presented the Distinguished Service Award from this organization. She initiated the establishment of an inter-disciplinary program for training high-school students for work in the hospitality industry. She was the recipient of the First Howard B Meek Award from the National Council on Hotel Restaurant and Institutional Education (CHRIE), named Hospitality Educator of the Year 1971 for Educational Excellence in Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Industry. The Restaurant Association State of WA (RASW) also presented her with the Hospitality Industry Award of Achievement in 1971. She was inducted in the Hall of Fame of the WA Vocational Association in 1992; and presented with The Arch of Fame Award by the American Vocational Association in 1993 in recognition of exemplary contributions to the field of vocational-technical education. She returned to the Charlotte area in the fall of 2003 and has lived in Matthews since that time. Family and friends will gather for a celebration of her life ceremony on Saturday, October 1 at 2:00 pm, Mt Zion United Methodist Church Education Building, Cornelius NC. Memorial contributions may be made in her honor to Family Career Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) in Reston VA, or The Firsthand Fund, Berry College; Mt Berry GA. Raymer-Kepner Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Huntersville, NC is serving the family. www.raymerfh.com