Obituary of Donald Lowery

Friends and family will gather on November 17th, to say farewell to long-time Santa Cruz resident, Donald Lowery who passed away in his Santa Cruz home, with his loved ones at his bedside, following a brave battle with cancer. Born in El Dorado, Arkansas, he was 68 years old. Mr. Lowery moved to Santa Cruz in 1959, and graduated from Santa Cruz High School in 1967, where he excelled in track and field and football. Mr. Lowery went on to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, majored in psychology and ran track. During his school and summer breaks, he helped his family in their dry-cleaning business with customer service and daily operations. Following college, he worked as a licensed Psychiatric Technician for the Department of State Hospitals in Atascadero, and later in San Francisco as a technician with Westside Community Mental Health. Mr. Lowery worked many years in San Francisco with the Municipal Transportation Department and moved back to Santa Cruz in 1998. His family will forever remember and admire his entrepreneurial talents; working in light carpentry, and as a handyman/ house painter. Many fond memories and stories will continue to be shared by his loved ones for his accomplished singing voice and love of music, that started when he was very young singing in the church choir. With the Motown catalogue and lyrics to hundreds of songs memorized, he was a familiar face in the karaoke competitions at Bocci's Cellar, The Whole Enchilada, and Michael's on Main Street. He was also a very skilled poker player, and leaves many friends and fellow card sharps who will miss him. Mr. Lowery is survived by his daughter Dominique Lowery of Oakland; his sisters Lena McRae of Union City, Billie Hightower and Faye James of Santa Cruz; his brothers; Robert Lowery of Richmond, Thomas Lowery and Bobby Lowery of Santa Cruz; along with many loving aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and extended family members including Mark Alexander, Anita Burton, Nonie Inyang, and Barbara Laurence, whose care and comfort for Donnie during these difficult months have helped to ease our sadness. Mr. Lowery was preceded in death by his father and mother, Pearl T. Lowery and Evelyn Lowery; his two brothers; Nathanial Lowery, Miller Lowery and his sister, Royaline Ashford. A memorial service will be held at Benito and Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel beginning at 12 Noon on Friday, November 17, 2017. Committal will be private. Please visit the Benito and Azzaro homepage to share your condolences with his family.