Ernest Fredrick Lowrance

Ernest Fredrick 'Ernie' Lowrance was born July 29, 1919, in Franklin County, Kansas. He was the son of Thomas Fredrick and Nancy Ellen (Hopper) Lowrance. A lifelong Franklin County resident, he made his home in Ottawa, until his death Friday, August 10, 2001, at the age of eighty-two years. He attended Evergreen and Cole rural schools in Franklin County. In later years, he served on the Rural Cole School Board. He was a dairy farmer, for himself, as well as working for other farmers in the area, moving to Ottawa in 1958. In 1961, Ernest became employed by Coca Cola working in Ottawa, Topeka, Kansas City, Mo., and Lenexa. While working in Ottawa, he did everything from making coke syrup and bottling the coke products, to going to the bank and post office. While in Topeka, he worked in the laboratory making syrup and overseeing the delivery schedule. In Kansas City, he worked on a service route all over the area to many of the well-known eating establishments. In Lenexa, he returned to the laboratory making syrup for all coke products and finished his career in quality control and also as night supervisor, retiring in August of 1984. Ernest was a member of Teamsters Union #838 in Kansas City, Mo., a former member of Odd Fellows and a member of their bowling team. He was also a member of the Sinclair bowling team and the White Furniture Store bowling team, both of Ottawa. In earlier years, Ernest enjoyed playing cards with friends. He loved the outdoors, gardening, hunting and fishing. He even did some coon hunting and had some really good bird dogs in his time. His daughter, Lavonne, at times hunted with him. He also loved to hunt with his sons-in-law and, before them, his father-in-law. They went to western Kansas pheasant hunting and for whatever was in season here, killing nothing they wouldn't use for food. He always loved fishing with his friends and family, from an early age. He enjoyed a couple fishing trips to Canada with friends and family in the 1950's and fishing trips to Melford Lake with his family for many years. Ernest especially loved getting together with family for Sunday dinners and holidays. On August 28, 1937, Ernest was united in marriage with Phoebe Mae Williams at Harrisonville, Missouri. She preceded him in death April 10, 1986. On May 26, 1987, he was united in marriage with Georgia