Florence May Lowrey

LOWREY, Florence “Flo” May (Donnelly)

Age 97, of Dayton, Ohio, passed away peacefully on September 14, 2025, in Kettering, Ohio. Flo was born on May 4, 1928, in Dayton, Ohio to the late James S. and Inez B. Donnelly. She was proudly raised, one of four Irish children, in Northridge (Dayton), Ohio. 

Flo grew up as an active, outdoorsy, “tell it like it is” young lady. She enjoyed swimming, fishing, hunting, horseback riding, and tap dancing. While at Northridge High School she became a cheerleader. During her junior year, she cheered the 1945 Varsity Basketball team to a championship title. She also fell deeply in love with the captain of the team, Raymond “Snook” Lowrey, Sr. They married in 1951 and built a wonderful life together for 46 years until Snook’s passing in 1997. 

Flo worked as an executive secretary at Delco Products before starting her family. She then drove a school bus for two years at Northridge Schools and Vandalia Butler Schools. After that, she worked at Reynolds & Reynolds for 5 years. Finally, transferring back to GM/EDS Computer Center for 7 years. Upon retirement, she became the best nanny to her great-niece and granddaughter. When not working or supporting her children’s sporting events and activities, she was a phenomenal seamstress and quilter. Flo also enjoyed crocheting, a good game of euchre or poker, and a day at the tracks, followed by the casino. But, most importantly, she loved spending time with her family: sharing exaggerated stories, laughter, and love. #Donnellystrong. 

Even though macular degeneration, and eventually dementia, robbed Flo of some of her abilities later in life, they never destroyed her devotion to family, a zest for life, dancing to the latest tunes, and her quick-witted, Irish stubbornness. 

Flo will be missed and remembered by her children, Trudy (Greg) Kinnison, of Centerville, OH and Raymond Lowrey, Jr., of Tierra Verde, FL; grandchildren, Kiley (Shane) Dodd and Samantha Lowrey; great niece, Mackenzie (Bulent) Tastan; great-great niece, Melissa May Tastan; sister-in-law, Marian Slauter; brother-in-law, Pete Lowrey; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; sisters, Mary (Tony) Battigaglia, Josephine (Jack) Scrafield; and brother, James (Delores) Donnelly. 

The family extends heartfelt thanks to the care teams at Randall Residence of Tipp City, Courtyard of Centerville, Home Care Assistance of Dayton, Ohio, Hospice of Dayton, and The Carlyle House. 

The family will be receiving friends from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m., Monday, September 22nd, at Morton & Whetstone funeral home, 139 S. Dixie Drive, Vandalia, OH. At 6:00 p.m. there will be an Irish celebration of life at the funeral home. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, September 23rd, at Queen of Martyrs Catholic Church, 4144 Cedar Ridge Road, Dayton, OH. Interment will follow at Dayton Memorial Park Cemetery. 

In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer that a donation be made, in memory of Flo, to either Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton or Shoes 4 the Shoeless, PO Box 41655, Dayton, OH 45441. www.shoes4theshoeless.org.