Ruth Mae Lowery

Ruth was born in rural South Carolina in 1943 and there is not much known about her early life except that she contracted tubercular meningitis around age 9 or 10 which caused her to lose her hearing and vision. 

She was placed in the care of Gaston County Social Services in 1953 and became a ward of the State of North Carolina in 1975 until she was chosen for training at the Helen Keller Institute in 1997. After training, she was placed in the services of Liberty Corner Ent. in Asheville, NC in 1998 and lived in Montview Group Home which served the deaf and blind. In 2001 Ruth, and the others who lived at Montview, moved into Clearview Touch of Home house which was built with Buncombe County and the Helen Keller Institute specifically to serve the need of deaf, blind, and deaf/blind individuals. Ruth lived at Clearview from 2001 until her death on February 28, 2026.

Ruth was an amazing individual despite the hardships life handed her. She was fiercely independent and didn’t want anyone to do anything for her she could do for herself. She made her own choices when given options and always gave a kiss on the cheek when anyone did something nice or kind for her. She was very creative and had her own jewelry beading business for several years. She loved children and visited schools to show them her work. She loved to dress nicely with jewelry, sunglasses and hats. Ruth loved plants and soul food and enjoyed going to the farmers market to buy corn, beans, and greens which she would clean and snap herself and her caregivers would cook them for dinner.

A book could be written on her life and accomplishments, her perseverance and gentle nature. She taught those around her just by being herself and her laughter brought joy to all those that cared for her. She will be missed dearly and her memory will be cherished forever.