Edward L. Lowery Jr., 57

BELVIDERE - Edward L. Lowery Jr., 57, a longtime resident of Belvidere, died Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2005, in Our Divine Savior's Hospital, Portage, Wis., after a sudden illness. He was born Nov. 28, 1947, in Pikeville, Ky., to Edward Lee and Stella (Mullins) Lowery Sr. Edward married Janet C. Beecham in Rockford on Jan. 27, 1968. He was a self-employed, over-the-road truck driver through Howe Freightways. When he was home, he doted on his grandchildren. He was a veteran of the Vietnam War, serving in the U.S. Marine Corps. Survivors include his wife, Janet of Belvidere; stepchildren, Robert Kelley and Trudy Kelley, both of Belvidere, and two children, Michael (Sarah) Lowery and Ben (Sara) Kelley, both of Rockford; five grandchildren, Rachel, Hannah and Ashley Lowery and Alyssa and Corbin Kelley; two stepgrandchildren, Jana (Kevin) Smith and Jordon Kelley; great-granddaughter, Olivia Smith; his mother, Stella (Howard) Lowery-Reek; sister, Joanne (Ray) Anderson; and brothers, Jim (Elle) Lowery and Jack Lowery. He was predeceased by his father.

Service will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 8, in Buck-Wheeler-Hyland Funeral Home, 218 W. Hurlbut Ave., Belvidere, with the Rev. Rex Rogers, pastor of First Baptist Church, officiating. Burial in Belvidere Cemetery. Visitation from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday, Feb. 7, in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the family.

Rockford Register Star (IL) - Saturday, February 5, 2005