Marjory P. Lowell

Marjory P. Lowell (Marj), 88 years young, of Fort Myers, Florida died Monday, June 14, 2010 in the loving care of Hope Hospice-HealthPark, with her family by her side. Marj was born June 25, 1921 in Linn Creek, Missouri to Nelle Calkin Moulder and Thad Moulder. Her family lived in Old Linn Creek until the town was flooded with the creation of Bagnell Dam and the Lake of the Ozarks. The town moved up the hill where it was rebuilt, including the family business, the Moulder Hotel. In 1947, Marj returned to Linn Creek after working in Kansas City during the war years, and married Kenneth W Lowell of Camdenton. In 1948 their twin daughters were born, and with the Korean conflict Ken was called back into the Navy as a pilot. The family then followed Navy bases until they landed in Alameda, California. When Ken was injured in a plane crash and had to retire from the Navy, the family spent time looking for a new home in a warm climate. They ended up on Fort Myers Beach in 1958. Living on the Beach was the greatest joy to the family. Marj loved her family and friends as well as boating, sailing, and fishing, beach walking, gardening, politics and activist causes. She was an accomplished artist in all media and spent her free time creating many items of beauty. When her beloved Ken died in 1977 she continued to operate their local businesses for several years, finally moving off the island to Fort Myers where she has lived and avidly gardened for the past 20 years. An unstoppable political junky, Marj has spent the past 20 years actively participating in local, state and national political campaigns and activities in Lee County. Marj recently received a lifetime award from the Lee County Democratic Party celebrating her volunteer spirit and unending devotion to the support of political campaigns. She so enjoyed her participation in the Lee County Democratic Women’s Club and treasured the many friendships she found there. Just 5 months after undergoing breast cancer surgery and treatment Marj joined Lydia and Steve at the Democratic National Convention in Denver where she was able to spend a spirited evening attending a nomination session. Creative, smart, dedicated, authentic, no-nonsense, caring, unstoppable, a true original, Marj will be dearly missed by her friends and family. Marj is survived by daughters Linda Lowell McKinley and husband Mel of Riverview, FL; Lydia Lowell-Sherman and husband Steve of Fort Myers, FL; her beloved granddaughter Sarah McKinley of Atlanta, GA; her honorary Grand Nephew Wade Sherman, Alnwick, UK; her McKinley grandchildren, Pat McKinley of Clarkesville, TN; Mike McKinley of Tampa, FL; Tim McKinley of Brandon, FL; Sam McKinley and family of Cincinnati, OH; and Kate McKinley of Oakland, CA.; great-grandchildren Shelley, Matt, Sean and Michelle McKinley; her one surviving sibling, William C Moulder and wife Doris of Kansas City, MO; nieces, cousins and many loving friends in Lee County. A Celebration of Marj’s Life will be held on Saturday, July 17 at 4 p.m. at the Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre, 1380 Colonial Boulevard, Fort Myers. Memorial Donations may be sent in the name of Marj Lowell to Quality Life Center of Southwest Florida, Inc., P. O. Drawer 1290, Ft. Myers FL 33902-1290 or to Hope Hospice-Health Park, 9470 HealthPark Circle, Fort Myers, FL 33908 "If I had but two loaves of bread I would sell one of them & buy White Hyacinths to feed my soul." - Elbert Hubbard

Marjory P. Lowell

June 25, 1921 - June 14, 2010