Eleanor Lowry

Eleanor Johns Lowry, 81, died November 11 in Annapolis.

Born March 19, 1930, in Manila, Philippines to Elizabeth and the Honorable Charles Johns of the Supreme Court of the Philippines, Ellie was a long-time resident of Portland, Oregon. Following the death of her father when she was two years old, Ellie grew up in the Laurelhurst neighborhood, attended Grant High School, and graduated from the University of Oregon, where she was a member of the Delta Gamma Sorority. Her classmates and sorority sisters provided her with a lifetime circle of friends.

Ellie was best known for her steadfast devotion to her family. Over the decades, she regularly welcomed her children and grandchildren to her home, and traveled the country to visit them. Until their deaths, she remained close to her sisters, Barbara Cobb of Lake Oswego, Oregon and Maggie Heidenrich of Eugene, Oregon; and counted their families as her own. Her "Family Cookbook," which she produced in 1979 exemplified her love by bringing together three generations of recipes.

Ellie had an abiding love for the Oregon outdoors, particularly the coast and the mountains. As a child she regularly visited Seaside with her mother and her sisters. Over subsequent years, she spent many happy vacations with her family and friends up and down the coast. She also relished cross-country skiing and hiking the trails on Mt. Hood and in Bend. She climbed Middle and South Sister with her family as a member of the Mazamas.

She worked as an administrative assistant at the Linfield School of Nursing in Portland. Of special importance to Ellie was her membership to St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church. Participating in the fellowship offered by its community of faith enriched her life and gave her great support until the end.

She is survived by her two sons, Tom Lowry of Tijeras, NM and Rick Lowry of Williamsburg, VA; daughter, Kim Coble of Annapolis: and four grandchildren, Bryan and Anne Coble, and Margaret and Elizabeth Lowry.

A memorial service will be held 5 p.m. on Tuesday, November 15 at St. Margaret's Episcopal Church, 1601 Pleasant Plains Road, Annapolis. Memorial donations may be made to either St. Margaret's Church, or St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church, 6300 SW Nicol Road, Portland, Oregon 97223.