Helen Frances Lower

Helen Frances (Hammer) Lower, 95, passed away in her home of nearly 66 years on November 22, 2018 in Fair Play, Missouri. She was the loving and devoted wife of William Bernard Lower. They shared their entire 65 years of married life together at the farm in which they lived beginning the first day of their marriage. Helen was born in Norborne, Missouri on December 27th, 1922, to Luther and Nellie Hammer. The family later moved to Goodson, Missouri, where she attended grade school and high school, and spent a brief period in Santa Paula, California attending high school during the Depression. Helen was an excellent student and valedictorian of her high school class. She especially loved geography and continued to be interested in local and world events throughout her life. She was saved at an early age and attended a Missionary Baptist Church in Goodson. Her love and commitment to Christ continued to grow throughout her life. Helen was a faithful member of the Fair Play First Baptist Church for over 60 years where she built loving relationships with numerous friends of the faith. She taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School, as well as contributing to many other church activities. During the hard years of the 1930’s, she helped support herself and the family by trapping, working in a tomato canning factory, helping on the farm, and even raising and selling canaries. Throughout her marriage, she was a diligent homemaker and a supportive and willing partner in all farm work. Helen’s love for her husband and children was evident in her hard work and selfless sacrifices throughout her years as a mother. When her children were grown, she worked many years at Lower’s Greenhouse, before “retiring” to garden, quilt, bake, tend her flowers, and especially help raise grandchildren. Throughout her life as a mother and grandmother her pride and joy were her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Helen and Bernard cherished the opportunity to travel in later years, seeing many parts of the United States and making many friends. Anyone who knew Helen, soon realized her passion was people. Whether with new or old acquaintances or with family members, she thrived on building and maintaining relationships. She was preceded in death by her father, Luther Theodore Hammer; her mother, Nellie Mae (Van Trump) Hammer; brother L. T. Hammer; an infant granddaughter; and granddaughter Jessica Lyn (Lower) Hopper. Helen is survived by her husband of 65 years, William Bernard Lower of the home; son Billy and wife Janetta of Fair Play; son Sammy and wife Cathy of Marshfield; daughter Linda (Lower) Hall and husband Ward of Fort Wayne, Indiana; daughter Cathy (Lower) Whaley and husband Greg of Fair Play; and son Jimmy and wife Diana of Fair Play, as well as 13 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren. Visitation will be at Butler Funeral Home on Monday, November 26th, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Services will be held Tuesday, November 27th at 10:00 a.m. Graveside Service will follow at Barren Creek Cemetery. Memorial contributions can be made to the Missouri Baptist Children’s Home, or Barren Creek Cemetery.

Helen Frances Lower

December 27, 1922 - November 22, 2018