John Brennan Mowry

John Brennan Mowry February 19, 2011 John Brennan Mowry, 98, lifelong resident and longtime lawyer of Mexico, NY, died February 19 at his home. He was born February 27, 1912, at the home of his parents, Dr. Earle A. and Margaret Mowry, Main Street, Mexico, and had resided with his wife, Katherine Mack Mowry, on Church Street, Mexico, since 1943. Mr. Mowry graduated from Mexico High School in 1929, from Cornell University in 1933 and from Union University, Albany College of Law, in 1936. He had been president of his senior class, president of his college fraternity, Seal & Serpent, and president of The Devil's Own law school society. He had been a member of Quill & Dagger, a senior men's honorary, in college. Upon graduation from law school, Mr. Mowry worked two years for the law firm of Cullen, Norris & Reynolds in Watertown. It was the Depression, and he worked for $10 per week. In 1938, Mr. Mowry opened his own law practice in Mexico, in a second-floor walk-up office over Shumway Drug Store. His son, John Michael Mowry, joined the practice in 1966, and as Mowry & Mowry, they built a new office on Main Street in Mexico, next to the brick home in which Mr. Mowry had been born. During his legal career, Mr. Mowry served as assistant district attorney for Oswego County, attorney for the school and village, and was a longtime member of the Committee on Character and Fitness for the Fifth Judicial District. He remained an active attorney into his late '80s. He was a longtime director of First National Bank of Central Square and its successor, The Oneida National Bank & Trust Company of Central New York, and was for many years a trustee of Saint Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church. Mr. Mowry cherished his family, friends, clients and the village of Mexico. He was a fine storyteller and a great source of village stories, dating back to the days of horse and wagon. He was genial, generous and thoughtful and a man of supreme integrity. Mr. Mowry is survived by his wife of 71 years, Katherine Mack Mowry; his son, John Michael Mowry (Mary Anderson Mowry) of Mexico; his daughter, Mary Ellen Massey (Eugene A.) of Washington, DC; five grandchildren, E. Thomas Massey of London, Elizabeth M. Hopkins of Baltimore, Michael P. Massey of San Francisco, Ellen M. Mowry, M.D., of San Francisco, and John J. Mowry of Manhattan; and seven great-grandchildren, Isabel, Allegra and George Massey of London, Finnian and Kate Hopkins of Baltimore, John B. Mowry of Manhattan and Miren Massey of San Francisco. A funeral Mass will be celebrated 10 a.m. Saturday, February 26, at St. Anne Mother of Mary Church in Mexico. Spring burial will be in Mexico Village Cemetery. Calling hours will be 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at Harter Funeral Home, 9 Washington Avenue, Mexico.