Jo Ann Lowry

Jo Ann Lowry, age 93, of Kansas City, Missouri, passed away on Saturday, December 27, 2025, in Shakopee, Minnesota.
Jo was born in Sedgwick, Kansas, on June 5, 1932, the daughter of John and Clara (Knight) Huffman. She graduated from Sedgwick High School-Class of 1950; and went to Southwestern College in Winfield, KS, and then received her Masters Degree in Liberal Arts, from Baker University.
Her teaching career started in West New York, New Jersey where she taught English and Speech. She then taught at various schools in Kansas and Missouri, and then retired while teaching at Hickman Mills High School. She brought a Mythology class to Hickman Mills and it became a favorite there and her section of the course was always full. Jo continued her teaching at Penn Valley Community College, teaching until she was 85 years old. At many of the schools, Jo coached the Drama and Debate teams. In her retirement she also enjoyed various volunteer activities including Union Station.
All around the Kansas City area, Jo was active in community theatre, and she performed many One Act Plays, where she entertained all with her voice and the piano. She was well known for her last show "When I am an Old Woman I Shall Wear Purple".Jo loved to travel with her girlfriends and was always up for a cruise to somewhere new. She was a huge Kansas City Chiefs fan, and enjoyed following her grandson, Chris at all his rock concerts. Most of all, Jo loved spending time with of all her children and grandchildren and loved creating traditions with them. This included the annual Christmas cookie baking and decorating with each individual grandchild and the reading of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas.
She is survived by her daughters, Diane (Perry) Lowry-Luther, and Jill (Tim) Schreiner; grandchildren, Chris, Shan, Janina (Sam), Aaron, Angela, Austin (Teage), Savannah, Aaliyah, Laura, Jeremy, and Kelsey; great-grandchildren, Rhya, Isaac, Beckett, and Declan; former spouse, Eugene Lowry (Sarah); many other relatives and friends. Jo was preceded in death by her parents, John and Clara Huffman; son, Mark; and infant brother, James.
Services will be held on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, at Benedictine at Windermere Way Chapel, 1705 Windermere Way, Shakopee, Minnesota: Visitation from 12-1 PM; followed by Funeral Service at 1 PM. Livestream available on McNearney-Schmidt Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/McnearneyFuneralHomeAndCremationServices
Interment will be held at Hillside Cemetery, Sedgwick, Kansas.
Memorials preferred to Alzheimer's Association.
Mom, we will miss you always.