Beverly "Bev" Lowe

Beverly “Bev” Lowe, a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, left this world peacefully on September 4, 2025, at the age of 84. She was born on November 4, 1940, in Old York, to Donald & Ellen (Burnam) Drake. Growing up on a dairy farm meant early mornings and long days, and it was there that she became the hardest-working woman you’d ever meet, milking cows before and after school and never shying away from what needed to be done.

It was at the First Baptist Church in West Union where Bev first met John Lowe. Their bond grew quickly, and on December 13, 1959, they were married. From that day forward, they were partners in every sense of the word. In their early years of marriage, they enjoyed square dancing together, before taking on the responsibilities of the family dairy farm. Life on the farm demanded constant sacrifice, but Bev and John carried it side by side. Whether it was tending to the herd, raising their children, or finding moments of joy along the way, they faced it all together. Later in life, after raising their children and selling the farm, they spent many weekends traveling to festivals with their small farm toy business, a hobby that became a shared adventure.

In addition to all the work she poured into the farm, Bev also wove herself into the fabric of her community. For more than 45 years, she was the local “Avon Lady,” a friendly face neighbors looked forward to seeing at their doors. She spent 20 years working as a cook at Brookstone Estates, where her meals weren’t just food but a source of comfort and joy. And in one of the more unusual chapters of her story, she even helped raise crickets for bait shops and zoos on a cricket farm!

Though work was central to her life, spending time with extended family and friends was just as meaningful. Bev often took the lead in planning family reunions, pulling everyone together to make time for love and laughter. Those gatherings, full of food, stories, and togetherness, were some of the moments she treasured most. And when the reunions were over, you’d often find her barefoot in her garden. She canned and preserved its produce so her family could enjoy it all year long. But it was in the kitchen where she really shined. She could fix a meal big enough for an army, even if only a few people were at the table. She did it all: cookies, casseroles, and she always made sure everyone’s favorite pie was waiting. To her family, she was more than a good cook; she was an artist in the kitchen.

Nothing made her happier than spending time with her family, whether it was helping her children prepare to show cattle at the county and state fairs or later teasing her grandchildren and great-grandchildren in the way only a grandma can. She had a playful spirit, and she made sure each grandkid felt special. Her love of children extended far beyond her own. For years, she taught Sunday school at the Baptist church, and she even babysat a number of little ones in the community for a time.

Bev’s life was a portrait of devotion, brushed with the colors of hard work, faith, and love. She was most at home with the earth beneath her bare feet in the garden, or with little hands in hers as she played on the floor with her grandchildren. Those ordinary moments were where her extraordinary love shone brightest. Though she is gone from our sight, the love she planted in so many hearts will continue to bloom, season after season, until, by the grace of God, we see her again!

She was preceded in death by her parents and by her husband of 61 years, John Lowe, her partner in both work and joy.

She is survived by her children & their spouses, Larry & Deb Lowe and Cindy & Mike Halloran, who were the heart of her days and the ones she devoted her life to raising and guiding. Her six grandchildren — Jessica & Ryan Jordan, Amanda Saarloos, Aaron Lowe, Trevor & Jessica Halloran, Tyler & Miranda Halloran, and Shelby & Keith Carter — were her delight. She teased them endlessly, encouraged them faithfully, and made sure each one knew how deeply they were loved. Her ten great-grandchildren — Reese, “KK,” Emma, Noella, Fenton, Rose, Harper, Hayes, Lyla, and Myles — filled her later years with laughter and light, reminding her daily that love only multiplies as the family grows.

She is also survived by her sister, Sue Knecht, and her brother & sister-in-law, Donald & Sally Drake, who shared the roots of her story and the bonds of a lifetime. Along with several nieces, nephews, and extended family, they will keep alive the memory of a woman whose love shaped them in ways words can never fully capture.

A time of visitation will be held from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 13th, at the Prust-Hosch Funeral Home in West Union, IL. Funeral services will follow at 3:00 p.m., with Steve Dolson officiating. For those unable to attend, a recording of the funeral will be posted at www.goodwinefuneralhomes.com/live-stream/live-stream following the service. Burial will be in York Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the West Union Baptist Church or to the Dementia Society of America, with envelopes available at the funeral home.