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Joan Rebecca Houston
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Obituary for Joan Rebecca Houston (Lowry)

Joan Rebecca  Houston (Lowry)
Joan Houston passed from this life on July 26, 2016, at Hospice Ministries in Jackson, MS.
Joan was born in Houston, MS, on July 2, 1927, to Mrs. Fannie Mottley Lowry and Mr. Chistopher Columbus Doss Lowry.

Her family resided on ‘the farm’, an old fashioned family farm outside Houston city limits, where she and her four siblings grew up. In the 1940’s when enrollment of females at MSU was limited, Joan attended her beloved Mississippi State University. She delighted in her time at State. During football season she served as a cheerleader during the first half of the football game, changed into her majorette uniform and marched and twirled with the band at halftime, and changed back to her cheerleader outfit for the second half. No doubt she was in her element. Later she moved to Batesville, MS, and married the love of her life, Charles R. Houston, owner and pharmacist of Houston Drugs. She and Charles had two daughters, and until his sudden death in 1969, Joan was a homemaker and devoted wife and mother. She was a lifelong member of Batesville First United Methodist Church, Batesville Garden Club, and a founding member of Panola Country Club.Throughout her adult life she enjoyed playing bridge with dear friends and more often than not had dinner with ‘the Group’ every Friday night. She had a passionate interest in sports, particularly football and basketball, as well as natural talent and love for flowers, gardening and fishing, all of which she kindly passed along to her two girls. Following her husband’s death, she explored a variety of new hobbies and activities including a stint as Housemother for the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity at Ole Miss, golf lessons at Panola Country Club, pottery making and glazing classes at Northwest Community College, and art lessons in drawing and painting. She became accomplished enough at golf to play with her friends in various golf tournaments around the state, as well as the State Ladies’ Tournament a few times. Her goal was always camaraderie, not competition. Pottery and art were outlets for her creative side, plus she enjoyed giving much of her artwork to family and friends. Towards the end of Mother’s life there were some very special helpers and friends whom we want to thank for their tender and compassionate care.

As Mother Teresa said, “Do small things with great love.” Our family wishes to thank these amazing people for doing just that: Tierra Penquite, Janice Penquite, Carolyn Penquite, Mae Walls, and Ann Young. Also, our heartfelt thanks to Dr. Gerry Houston, Dr. Whitney Raju, Dr. David Sullivan, Dr. David Ball, and the incredible staff at Hospices Ministries, Inc.

Joan is predeceased by her parents, her husband Charles R. Houston, and her siblings, John Alfred Lowry, Rosemary Lowry Rhine, Elizabeth Lowry Maddux and Louise Lowry Earnest. She is proudly survived by her two daughters Charlie Beck Graves (Fred) of Batesville and Jennie Myers (Bob) of Jackson, as well as five grandchildren and six great grandchildren. Thanks be to God for the life of our mother Joan Lowry Houston.

Visitation for friends will be held at 2 PM on August 7, 2016 in the sanctuary of Batesville First United Methodist Church. A private Family Memorial Service will follow at 3 PM in the sanctuary. Should remembrances be desired, the family suggests: Batesville First United Methodist Church, 119 Panola Avenue, Batesville, MS 38606; St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Attn.: Tribute, P.O. Box 1000, Box 142, Memphis TN 38148; Hospice Ministries, Inc., 450 Towne Center Boulevard, Ridgeland, MS 39157. Dickins Funeral Home in Batesville has charge of arrangements.
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