Anna Ruth Lowry

Anna Ruth (Ayers) Lowry, 89 of Mint Hill, NC died Wednesday 24 2023, at Novant Health Matthews. Anna was born in Grant, Alabama on September 18,1933. She was the fifth oldest daughter of Armon Martin Ayers and Verlie Elizabeth Derrick. Anna grew up with five brothers and four sisters. Gene, Lois, Eleanor, Doris, Bob, Wiley, Julia, Pete and Gary. To them she was known as Anna Ruth. She grew up in a humble setting on Gunter’s Mountain in Grant Alabama. She learned to appreciate what she had, but also to help those in need. Strong family bonds were forged early and continued throughout her life. The days were long starting at sunrise and lasting to sundown. Even though at times it wasn’t easy, the days were filled with love, laughter, adventure and countless memories of life growing up on the mountain. Growing up she spent many hours helping at home and farming, picking cotton, plowing the field and canning. Many of her sayings and ditties were put together during these hours. While picking cotton, she also balled up stalks and leaves which became useful for beaning little brothers. Anna Ruth loved going to school. She was always the first to be ready and waiting for the school bus. Her stubbornness started at an early age. It got her out of doing a lot of things she didn’t want to do such as picking two rows of dry peas. Other times it got her in a lot of trouble when she and her sister wouldn’t wash the dishes. She had the ability to talk people into doing things that she didn’t want to do. When Doris and Anna Ruth had to sell a chicken, she always talked Doris into doing the hard part and carrying the chicken to the store. Ann answered her country’s call to service and worked as a bookkeeper in the US Air Force. She spent time near Colorado Springs with Lowry Air Force Base nearby. While in Florida, she met USAF Staff Sgt. Zeb Abner Lowry, and the two were married in Bowling Green Ohio on July 30, 1955, shortly after Zeb was honorably discharged. When Zeb was working for Chevrolet Gear and Axle in Detroit, Ann worked for a local hospital doing clerical work. While in Detroit, they lived right next to a home where people were coming and going at all hours of the night. Little did Ann realize, that house was the birthplace of Motown and where it started before it became famous. The house is still standing and it is now the Motown Museum's entrance and gift shop. When not working, Anna enjoyed gardening, flowers, golf, puzzles, dancing, reading, watching game shows, and playing Yahtzee. Here are just a few of her favorite things: Flowers/Gardening - A love for working outside and planting started when she was younger. She would spend hours working outside on her flower beds. Many of the flowers have special meaning to her. When she moved she would take flowers given to her by others and replant them at her new home. They would represent and remind her of the people that she loved. Some of the most beautiful colorful flowers that bloom are ones that she received from her siblings. Pinochle - Growing up it was expected that you learn how to play pinochle. Across all generations and regardless of age it was competitive. The countless hours spent playing card games around the kitchen table with Grams/Grandma Ann and drinking coffee is one of the many cherished memories her granddaughters have. This would usually happen when the cousins had a sleepover at Grams. All of them staying up all night laughing and giggling at the silliest things. Unlike in life, Zeb was not her favorite partner when it came to playing cards. Cooking - She loved to put on an apron and kerchief and bake cakes, cookies for hours with her granddaughters. She loved to bake for others, fruitcakes, teacakes, coconut bars and cookies, even though she hardly ate what she baked. Grams/Grandma Ann would make hundreds of cookies and make sure that each grandchild had their own loaf of blueberry bread when they came. Grams/Grandma Ann would also make sure they had their own bag of chips. She inspired a love of cooking in one of her grandchildren. Sports - Anna was quite athletic. As a child she used to play baseball in the pasture with her siblings, Mom and Aunt. She also sometimes joined neighborhood softball games. She loved to golf with friends. One of her friends mentioned that they didn’t like to golf with her because she was so good and would beat them. Dancing - She loved to dance. When her and Zeb danced they were actually good. People watching them would get scared every time Zeb would dip her because it was so quick, low, and close to the ground, they thought he might drop her. He came close but never did. Most of all, Anna loved her family and friends and she will be sadly missed. Anna Ruth not only loved her family and her friends but treasured them. She had an extended family and became a second mother to many children. All the children under her care learned to drink coffee at a very young age. One of the things she is most proud of was watching her granddaughters grow into the remarkable woman they have become. So much of her life was spent drinking coffee, flipping puzzle pieces, laughing, talking, golfing, dancing and hanging out with the people that she loved. The hours she spent doing all this with her siblings, children, grandchildren and friends, was something that not only touched her heart but many others as well. She is survived by her sons: Greg (wife Celia) Lowry, Brian Lowry, and Will (wife Stacy) Lowry; her grandchildren: Caroline, Alyssa, Danielle and Emma; and three brothers, Wiley Ayers, Pete Ayers, and Gary Ayers. Anna is further survived by numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives, friends and lifetime friends. Anna was preceded in death by her parents and her spouse Zeb. She was also proceeded in death by her brothers Gene and Bob and sisters Lois, Eleanor, Doris, and Julia. Anna’s family has given the family of Lowe-Neddo Funeral Home the privilege of caring for her and for them. Visitation will take place from 4 pm to 5 pm on Sunday, June 4, 2023, at the funeral home, 4715 Margaret Wallace Road, Matthews, NC 28105. Graveside services will be held at 10 am on Monday, June 5, at Sunset Memory Gardens, 8901 Lawyers Road, Charlotte, NC 28227.

Anna Ruth Lowry

September 18, 1933 - May 24, 2023