Mel Lowe

Richfield, Utah - Our kind and beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend, Melvin Jean Lowe, age 84, slipped peacefully away in the early morning hours of Wednesday, December 28, 2011 at the home of his daughter in St. George, Utah. He was born July 6, 1927 in Richfield, a son of Thomas Cephus and Clara Louisa Anderson Lowe. He graduated from Richfield High School, Class of 1945. He attended BAC in Cedar City for 3 years, and then went to the University of Utah, where he received his Masters Degree in Psychology and Physical Education. Mel served for a time in the Merchant Marines. He married the love of his life, Betty Lou Riggs, June 17, 1949 in the St. George LDS Temple. To this union were born three children: Sherri, Tim and Teresa. Mel was a physical education teacher, teaching at Wayne High School in Bicknell, Richfield High School in Richfield, and he started the physical education program at Rancho High School in Las Vegas, Nevada. He retired from teaching after 30 years. Mel was an active member of the LDS Church. He and Betty served an LDS Mission to the Auckland New Zealand Mission in TeKuiti and on the Nuie Island. They developed a great love for the Maori people. Mel loved to hunt and fish, golf, and play all sports, especially softball, baseball and basketball. After retiring from teaching, Betty and Mel lived in Worland, Wyoming for 12 years. The past several years they have been snow birds, living in Richfield during the summer and in St. George during the winter time. Mel was a wonderful husband, dad and grandpa and will be greatly missed. He is survived by his beloved wife, Betty, of Richfield; his children: Sherri Kesterson of St. George; Tim and Karen Lowe of Washington, Utah; Teresa and Mark Ruesch of Las Vegas, Nevada; 12 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents, Tom and Clara Lowe; four brothers and one sister: Rex Lowe, Rey Lowe, Garth Lowe, Calvin Lowe and Ruth Amberson. Funeral services will be held Monday, January 2, 2012 at 11:00 A.M. in the Richfield 7th LDS Ward Chapel, 159 North 400 West in Richfield. Friends may call for viewing at the Springer Turner Funeral Home, 260 North 400 West in Richfield, Sunday evening from 6 to 8 P.M or at the ward chapel Monday morning from 9:30 to 10:30 prior to the services. Burial will be in the Richfield City Cemetery under the care of the Springer Turner Funeral Home of Richfield and Salina, Utah.