James E. Lowery

James E. “Jim” Lowery, 76, of Jefferson City, died Thursday, September 25, 2025, at his residence surrounded by his family after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.

Jim is survived by his wife Karel Lyster Lowery, of the home. Jim and Karel were married in Nevada, Missouri on August 16, 1980. He has been a resident of Jefferson City since 1984.

He was born in Springfield, Missouri and was raised in Aldrich, Missouri, a small-town northwest of Springfield, Missouri. He accepted Christ as a teen and was baptized at the Aldrich Methodist Church. He was a long-time member at Grace Episcopal Church and was active in the choir and held many lay leadership positions.

In addition to his wife, Karel, he is survived by his son, Evan (Elizabeth) Lowery (graduates of Illinois Wesleyan University) and grandsons Bennett Robert Lowery and Marshall Nicholas Lowery of Geneva, Illinois; daughter Emily (Michael Lynch) Lowery (graduate of Drake University) of Elmhurst, Illinois; baby Lynch due in February 2026; nephews, Robert Lowery, and William Lowery of Missouri; cousin, Bonnie (Brim) Conwell of Blue Springs, Missouri; as well as “Oklahoma Cousins”; two sisters-in-law, Maryalice Lyster, of Waterford, Maine and Elizabeth Lyster Marshall, Arlington, Texas; and many loved ones.

Jim was preceded in death by his mother, Juanita F. Brim Lowery Hindman (stepfather Joseph Hindman) and father, James O. Lowery.

Jim is a graduate of Fair Play High School, Fair Play, Missouri; Southwest Baptist University (BA), Bolivar, Missouri and the University of Missouri-Columbia (MPA). He worked his entire career in Human Resources starting with the United States Air Force as a Personnel Systems Manager at the Pentagon. He was a Vietnam Era Veteran. Jim then worked for 28 years at the Missouri Department of Mental Health (DMH) facilities, which included four years at the Nevada Habilitation Center, Nevada, Missouri; four years at the Marshall Habilitation Center, Marshall, Missouri and the remainder in the Central Office located in Jefferson City, Missouri; being the Deputy State Department Director for HR during periods between 1991 and 1997 and HR Manager for the remainder of the time. He served as Interim HR Director for the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations 2003-2004. He also served as the HR Director for 13 years with Cole County Residential Services, Inc. of Jefferson City, Missouri.

Jim was active in various community and professional organizations including the National Public Employer Labor Relations Association (NPELRA) of which he had served as Secretary and Vice President as well as the Missouri affiliate MOPELRA, where he served as President and other offices on the Board of Directors. He valued greatly the work of public sector HR professionals and their dedication to good services, as well as lively discussions on all things HR. Jim was also a member of the “Order of the Arrow-Brotherhood” sponsored by Troop 10, Boy Scouts of America (BSA) which he had supported and with which he was affiliated from 1997 to 2017. He received the “St George Award” from Troop 10 and the BSA.

He enjoyed updating their home landscaping, exercising at the YMCA with his friends followed by coffee for fellowship and his greatest pleasure was in continuing his work by volunteering with NPELRA.   

Visitation will be 9-11:00 a.m., Saturday, October 4, 2025, at Grace Episcopal Church followed by a Memorial Service at 11:00 a.m. with the Rev. Harvel Sanders officiating with military honors.  The service will be livestreamed on the church website at https://m.facebook.com/gracechurchjc/.  

A graveside service and internment will be held at the Pleasant Ridge Cemetery, in Aldrich, Missouri at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Southwest Baptist University, Bolivar, Missouri or to Cottey College, Nevada, Missouri in care of the Lowery Scholarship Fund.

Services entrusted to Trimble Funeral Homes – Jefferson City.    trimblefunerals.com