James A. Lowery
James A. Lowery, age 86, of Golconda, Ill., passed away Saturday morning, Sept 14, 2013 at 6:40 a.m., in Lourdes Hospital in Paducah, Ky.. Mr. Lowery was born June 20, 1927 in Rosiclare, Ill. to Charles Wilburn and Anna Bell (Turner) Lowery.
He graduated from Golconda Community High School in 1947. He was a member of the College Heights Baptist Church in Eldorado, Ill. and for the past many years faithfully attended church services at the First Baptist Church in Golconda.
He was owner of Lowery's Grocery store in Golconda from 1955-58 and from 1963- 78. He worked as a news correspondent for the WMOK Radio Station from 1952-2000 and for the Paducah Sun-Democrat from 1968-77. He worked at the Golconda Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center as Transportation/Supply Clerk and served as Administrative officer from 1967 to 1990.
Mr. Lowery served three terms as Mayor of Golconda from 1977-1981, 1981-85 and 1989-1993. He was a charter member of the Southern Illinois Mayors Association.
Mr. Lowery served on the Golconda Public Library Board from 1967 until the time of his death and as its president from 1968-1999 and as vice-president from 1999 to 2000. He was the longest serving public library board trustee in the state of Illinois. He served as a Shawnee Library System trustee from 1974-76 and was a member of the Illinois Library Association Board of Trustees.
He served as Justice of the Peace for Pope County from 1957-65 and as Golconda City Treasurer from 1958 - 69. He served as acting Pope County Coroner for two years and as deputy Pope County Coroner for four years.
He served as Pope County Deputy Sheriff for six years being appointed in l972 and l980 and as Pope County Sheriffs Communication Officer for four years and as a State's Attorney Office Investigator for four years and as Pope County Magistrate of the Circuit Court from 1964-65.
He is survived by a sister, Sarah Doerner of Du Quoin, Ill., five nieces. Emma O'Brien Joiner of rural Golconda, Ill., Marie Warren of Golconda, Ill., Annette Tapp and Crystal Purcell of Owensboro, Ky. and Gail Lowery of Arkansas; a nephew, Carlton Doerner of Du Quoin, Ill., a grandnephew and his wife, Shawn and Jennifer O'Brien of Suffolk, Va., two great-grandnephews, Quaid O'Brien of Suffolk, Va. and Daniel Tapp of Owensboro, Ky. and three great-grandnieces, Kristen and Cierra Robinson of Owensboro, Ky. and Madison O'Brien of Suffolk, Va.
He was preceded in death by his parents, an infant brother, Eugene Lowery; a brother, Charles A. Lowery; a sister, Grethel Warren; brothers-in-law, Bandy Warren and Carroll Doerner, and two nephews-in-law, Richard O'Brien and Deon Jointer.
Funeral services were held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, Sept. 20, 2013 at the Aly Funeral Home in Golconda, Ill. with Pastor Jeremiah Burdon officiating. Burial was in the Peters Creek Cemetery near Elizabethtown, Ill. Memorials may be made to the Golconda Public Library (PO Box 523, Golconda, Ill. 62938).