Lavena Lowrey recognized on 94th, volunteering at Multi-Purpose Center

Lavena Lowrey of rural Pattonsburg was recently recognized for being a long-time volunteer at the Pattonsburg Multi-Purpose Center. She has been there about every day since it opened in 1975.
She will be 94 on Feb. 2 and will celebrate with a birthday party at the center. The public is invited to attend.
“My birthday is on Groundhog Day,” Lavena says. “We all make light of that.”
Currently Lavena is the greeter at the center. She has served as treasurer in the past. She has volunteered in other various capacities as well, like depositing the lunch money in the bank and picking up the mail. Lavena’s husband, Delbert, and their son Tommy were handymen for the center.
Lavena and Delbert Lowrey were married in 1941. Delbert was a WWII veteran and a farmer. Lavena often helped Delbert with the farm work. She drove a tractor and sometimes worked in the fields. A portion of the farm was owned by Delbert’s father before him and is a Century Farm.
They have four children, Bruce and Tommy, Evelyn (Butch) Bayne and Janelda Webber. Evelyn works at the Hy-Vee pharmacy in Bethany and Janelda works at Crestview in Bethany. Bruce is retired. Both Delbert and Tommy have passed away.
Lavena was a volunteer with 4-H at Pattonsburg. She had a unique way of teaching the girls how to sew. Since she is left-handed, she faced them like a mirror and it was a very effective learning tool. She is a member of Heath United Methodist Church. She has served as election judge up until a few years ago.
“Mother always encouraged us to do well in school,” says son Bruce. “I remember being in the senior play. Mother would read all the other parts to help me practice my role.”
Delbert and Lavena built their own house in 1952. They lived in the basement for about a year while constructing the rest of it.
“Our folks were always self-sufficient,” says Bruce. “Mother raised a garden and canned.”
Lavena has also been a part of the Tree Climber Genealogy Club. She has researched five different family trees and edited the information and put it in a book. There’s a shelf in the Tree Climber’s building called “Lavena’s Shelf.” The community can look through the genealogies she has compiled.
Lavena’s husband and sons were also been deeply involved in the community. Both Delbert and Tommy were on the school board. Tommy helped the school build its track and baseball field. He helped with other jobs that needed done, like hauling gravel.
Bruce attended college and returned to Pattonsburg and taught for two years. He went to Independence and taught math for two years. He was city clerk in Independence for 39 years until he retired. After retirement, he has been able to help more with the farm.
Lavena lives with Katie the dog. A daughter’s home is within walking distance, and she checks on Lavena every day.
Be sure to say hello and wish Lavena happy birthday on Feb. 2 at the Pattonsburg Multi-Purpose Center.