James ‘Jim’ Lowe
1949 – 2010

PORTLAND — James (Jim) Robert Lowe, 60, of Greenwood, died Sunday, March 7, at the Maine Medical Center, from complications arising from cancer.

He was born in Rumford, Oct. 3, 1949, the son of Robert James Lowe and Ramona Farnum Lowe Grover. He graduated in the class of 1969 from Telstar Regional High School and was also an alumnus of Gould Academy. One of his most recent accomplishments was graduating from the University of Maine, Augusta in May 2008 with a 3.8 average, where he received his bachelor’s degree in mental health and human services, along with being a certified alcohol and drug counselor.

He was very proud of this and worked for Common Ground Counseling for a brief period, until having to retire due to failing health. He received a bachelor’s degree in education in 1979 from Western Connecticut State College in Danbury, Conn. He was also a 1979 graduate of the University of Maine in Machias.

He worked for the past 14 years with Sally and Leslie at Mt. Greenery Greenhouse. He worked for 12 years at the Bethel Inn and Country Club as waiter and beverage manager and two years as manager of Mother’s restaurant. From 1981 to 1986 he was a public relations director for Ethan Allen Inc. in Danbury, Conn.; 1979 to 1981, he was a middle/high school teacher at both John Jay Middle/High School in N. Salem, N.Y., and the George Fischer Middle School in Carmel, N.Y. The summer of 1986, he was appointed by the mayor of New Haven, Conn., to work with inner city African-American and Hispanic youth in a special program at Yale for the Mayor’s Counsel for the Arts.

From 1994 to present, he was the master of the Alder River Grange, past department master of the Maine State Grange and past master of the Pomona Grange. He attended several state and national Grange conventions with his friend, Stan Howe. Jim was a life member of the Bethel Historical Society, where he involved himself with research and also served for years on the gardens and grounds committee. He was president of the Bethel Library, until poor health forced him to step down and he was also a longtime board member of the Bethel Library. He was also a member of AMFAR, Kappa Delta Pi; National Org. for Human Services and a member of the American Counseling Association. He also participated in many performances as important characters for Sue Farrar and the Children’s Dance Theatre. One of his funnest times was being the toy maker, Gheppeto, as his niece, Monica played Pinocchio and he also was the Wizard in the the Wizard of Oz. He was a great performer.

He was a man that could master any conversation with anyone no matter what field they were in or what level of education they had. He could relate to anyone. He was always one that was not afraid to tell it like it is and had the quickest wit of anyone around. He loved his flower gardens, painting, music, books and was doing in-depth research of his family’s genealogy, which he was still working on at the time of his passing. He loved to travel to other countries with highlights being his trip to Amsterdam with Stan; two trips to Brazil; and a trip many years ago to Hawaii with his mother and several friends.

He is survived by his mother and stepfather, Ramona and Richard Grover of Mason; a sister, Katrina of Bethel; a sister,  Jane and her husband, Craig Ryerson, of Bethel; a brother, Alan Thomas and his wife, Christina Lowe, of Bethel; three nieces, Monica Shea Ludden and husband, Matt, Mary Ann Lowe and Carrie Michelle Phelps and husband, Neil; a nephew, Andy Lowe of Boston; two great-nephews, Boston Ludden and Noah Phelps; two aunts, Mary Stuart Rowe and her husband, Stan and Helen Lowe Kraul; several cousins; his dog, Remy; he leaves behind many, many wonderful friends. He will be sadly missed by Sally and Bill, Leslie and Tim, Vicki and Jim Smith, Stan Howe and Randy Bennett, Gail Weston, June Abbott, Caroline Campbell, Aunt Gen, Lynn, Terry, Polly and Shirley (at the Foodliner) and many many others to numerous to mention. Folks will miss his daily chats in the Bethel Foodliner, the banks and the post office.

He was predeceased by his father, Robert James Lowe in 1990.

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