Ricky Ray Lowery

Ricky Ray Lowery, age 70, of Forest City, after a three-year battle with cancer, passed peacefully surrounded by his loved ones on Wednesday, February 21, 2024 from complications of pneumonia at Rutherford Regional Medical Center. 

Ricky was born Tuesday, November 17, 1953 in Rutherford County to the late Max William Lowery and Ellen Harris Lowery. He worked in construction most of his life. Ricky enjoyed gardening, was a gun enthusiast, making custom walking sticks, going to races at the Shady Side dragstrip, being outdoors, growing flowers and could make anything grow. He loved his Cadillac and Mustangs and especially driving them too fast. Ricky’s biggest joy and passion was spending time with his girls and grandson. He loved to watch Austin wrestle and play baseball. Ricky will be forever known as a kind, caring, loving person and if he called you friend, it was for a lifetime. 

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers Steve Lowery (who was killed in Vietnam) and Tim Lowery, sister-in-law, Janice Lowery and best friend, Scott Bailey.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife of forty-seven years, Bonnie Lowery; daughters, Apryl Hamrick (Dale) and Jessica Walker all of Forest City; grandson, Austin Ray Walker, brothers, Bruce Lowery (Becky) of Six Mile, SC and Blaine Lowery of Forest City; sisters-in-law, Barbara Lowery and Doris Lowery both of Forest City; two nieces, three nephews and a number of great and great-great nieces and nephews and his  life-long friend, Neal Yelton.

The funeral service will be conducted at 2:00 pm on Tuesday, February 27th at the Harrelson Funeral Chapel with the Reverend Ernie Cole officiating. Interment will follow at Rutherford County Memorial Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. 

Memorial donations are requested to the Levine Cancer Institute, 136 Sparks Drive, Forest City, NC 28043.