Charles R. Lowrey, 80, passed away peacefully to be with the Lord on January 10, 2023. He was
born on March 30, 1942 in St. Louis, MO. He was a beloved father to Stacey Lowrey Gustafson
(Mike Gustafson) and Jarrett Lowrey, grandfather to Ashley and Brock Gustafson, and brother
to Richard Lowrey. He was preceded in death by his parents, Herbert and Juliet Lowrey, and
brother, Herbert Lowrey.
Charles worked for over 40 years as a tool salesman, the consummate handyman i.e. “Tool
Guy.” He believed the key to success was through hard work, dedication and an entrepreneurial
spirit. He was known for his good sense of humor and loved sharing stories about his children
to anyone who would listen. If your car broke down on a deserted highway in the middle of the
night, he would be there as fast as possible with a box of tools to fix the car, no questions
asked. He had an ingenious approach to fixing things with duct tape, using it to extend the
lifespan by another decade for toys, shoes, clothes, appliances, tools, automobiles, especially
old slippers. One of his best moments was building a catapult with his grandson which
unfortunately was too huge and powerful to bring to 3rd grade show and tell.
His activities and hobbies were numerous, from restoring historic cars to tinkering with antique
clocks. He loved the thrill of motor sports and raced hydroplanes well into midlife. He had many
close friends through the Moolah Shrine Swing Dance Club. He especially enjoyed driving to the
Octoberfest in Herman, MO with the top down and the wind in his face.
In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory can be made to Alzheimer’s Association (ALZ.ORG).
A Celebration of Life service with immediate family members and friends only to be held at a
future date.