Catherine Jenkins Lowe

On the beautiful sunny morning of Tuesday, July 9, our sweet mother, Catherine Christine Jenkins Lowe, joined our father, Walker Earl Lowe, in heaven. Separated for only 20 days, they are now both safely home, hand in hand. 

Catherine was born on May 19, 1941, in the White Oak community to Manson Vinson and Arbie Jenkins, graduated from Fines Creek School in 1959, and lived in Haywood County her entire life. She was the easiest going person you will ever meet and was happiest just being around her loving family and friends. She loved working in her flowers and going to yard sales, and one of her fondest memories was working at Lay’s Five and Dime on Main Street as a young woman. She also had many great friends and memories from working at The Mountaineer and GP Graphics later in life. If you were looking for the best breakfast in town, it could always be found in her kitchen which was never closed, and our mother always loved to go somewhere. Anywhere. Whether it was going to town, to Texas, or across the country, her response was always the same: “Well, let me get my pocketbook.” 

Anyone who ever knew her will tell you - you will never find a better woman than Catherine Lowe. They also knew that our mother had three great loves in her life. First was our father, Walker Earl Lowe. The day before he died unexpectedly on June 19, she told him that she had loved him from the time she was just a girl and never looked back. She saved a card he gave her for her 16th birthday to prove that. She was crazy about him and never left his side. Earl and Cat - they were quite a pair, and we will forever be blessed by all the great things that came from their special love. 

Her second love was her family. She was the best mother, mother-in-law, mamaw, daughter, sister, and aunt we could ask for, and she taught us by shining example. We never heard her raise her voice, curse, or say a bad word about anyone. A drop of alcohol or a cigarette never touched her lips, and she was truly pure of heart. She never failed to be there for us day or night with no questions asked, and because of her we will always know the true meaning of unconditional love. Mama, we thank you for every prayer you prayed, everything you sacrificed for us, every wonderful meal you prepared as only you could, every hand on the forehead in the middle of the night, and every time you told us you loved us with that precious smile. May we continue to learn from the love you gave and the many lessons you taught us through the generations. 

Third, and most importantly, our mother loved the Lord. She and daddy were saved together on October 12, 1968, and proudly served the Lord every day of their lives. Our mother would get up and fix a full breakfast from scratch and read the Bible and pray with us before we caught the school bus at 6:15. Nothing will ever be so precious as the sound of our mama praying. 

When we all get to heaven, we know exactly how to find her. Just look for the biggest mansion. That will be hers. She earned it through the life she lived every single day. There is no doubt we will find her there with all those who have gone on before us (especially her mother who she is now meeting for the first time), fixing a cake of cornbread for daddy, tending to her flowers, and waiting to welcome each of us home with that unforgettably precious smile. Thank you, Lord, for sharing your special angel with us for 83 years. 

In addition to her parents, Catherine was preceded in death (by only 20 days) by her husband and one true love, Walker Earl Lowe; all of her sisters, Philathea Taylor, Randy Messer, Alma Messer, Polly Wyatt, Arbutus Michaels; and all of her brothers, Robert (Dunbar), Wilfred, Jim, Fred, Baby Edward, and Little Howard Jenkins. 

Each one of us will continue to love and cherish her memory and try every day to be more like her: son Mike Lowe (Angie) of Waynesville; daughter Beth Emerson (Russ) of Fort Worth, TX; grandson Jesse Lowe (Stephanie) of Waynesville; granddaughter Annaka Michael (Dillon) of Candler; great grandchildren Colt, Tess, Carson, Mollie Catherine, and Quin; and so many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends who she loved more than they will ever know. 

We would also like to thank our wonderful friends at Four Seasons Hospice for lovingly caring for our mother and us these last few months, with extra special thanks to Elizabeth, Mandy, Casey, Autumn, and Donna. She thought the world of each of you. 

A Memorial Service to honor Catherine’s life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 13, 2024, in the Chapel of Wells Funeral Home of Waynesville with Reverend Isaac Brooks and Reverend Billy Ferguson officiating. The family will receive friends from 1:00 p.m. until service time at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers please make donations to the Panther Creek Cemetery Fund, c/o Donna Green, 166 Weaver Russell Road, Clyde, NC 28721. 

The care of Ms. Lowe has been entrusted to Wells Funeral Home of Waynesville