Obituary - Gladys “Francene” Lowery

Gladys “Francene” Lowery

Age 90

Francene Lowery passed away on October 18, two days prior to her 90^th birthday. Francene was born on October 20, 1933, to William Lester (Tom) Monk and Winnie Gladys (Essary) Monk in Roswell, New Mexico. She met the love of her life, Charles James Lowery and they were married in Sudan, Texas, in 1949. All four of their children, Dale, Dalton, Jerry, and Diane, were born in Texas. In 1960, they moved to Fallon, Nevada, with hopes of buying a ranch. The family had several moves early on and spent time in Fallon and Beatty, Nevada, and Texas.

Francene and Charles were very close and always did what they thought best for the family. Life was always an adventure. From 1969 to 1972, while living in Beatty, they took on ownership of the Texaco station with Francene as head of finance and the bookkeeper. They also built a house in Beatty. In 1972, they bought the ranch they always wanted in Middlegate, some 45 miles east of Fallon. In 2002, Charles passed away. Francene and Charles were married for 53 years and got to spend 20 years on the ranch they had always wanted.

There were a few times she worked outside the home, but for the most part, was home raising the children and was always cooking. She was such a good cook that she could have opened a restaurant at Middlegate. People for miles around would stop in to visit and always get a meal or coffee. Francene and Charles also raised a large garden, which allowed her and the extended family to can vegetables every year. Francene was there as a rancher’s wife, doing whatever was necessary to take care of the livestock, alfalfa, cooking, and gardening. She loved her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and her family.

After Charles passed, she sold the ranch and moved into Fallon. She was there for the past 20 years. Francene served as a volunteer for many years at the Banner Hospital and helped at the senior center in Fallon.

Francene was a strong woman who dealt with the long-term results of Covid in 2022 and, more recently, the effects of cancer treatments. She was a person of strong faith and a member of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Fallon. We are sure she is in the Lord’s hands and has joined Charles at that ranch in heaven.

Francene was the second oldest of eleven children and was preceded in death by her parents, stepfather Charles O’Connor, and brothers Howard, Charles, Lester, Tommy, and Jimmie O’Connor. Francene is survived by her sisters Cleta Monk Rudolph (Richard deceased), Janie Patrick (Alex deceased), Marla Riley (Tom deceased), and sisters-in-law Linda Monk and Rayma O’Connor and brothers Michael O’Connor (Linda) and Patrick O’Connor (Theresa).

Francene is survived by her sons Dale (Jacque), Dalton (Debbie), Jerry (Patricia) and daughter Diane Greeley (Edward deceased); eight grandchildren, Waylon Lowery, Nathan Lowery, Gayle Valdes (William), Holly Richardson (Carl), Erin Baerwaldt (Dan), Marsha Rice Lowery (Travis), Benjamin Woods (Katie), Jacob Lowery (Amanda), and 24 great-grandchildren.

Services were held on Monday, October 30, at The Gardens Funeral Home, 2949 Austin Hwy, Fallon, NV.