Benjaman Lowery

Dr. Benjamin Rodger Lowery, 68, passed from this life on Monday, October 26, 2009 at his home near Judsonia, surrounded by his family. He was born Jan. 20, 1941 in St. Louis, MO, the son of Albert and Leo Green Lowery. "Dr. Ben," as he was known to his patients, is survived by his wife, Dianne Garner Lowery of Searcy; two daughters, Melanie Lowery of Nashville, TN and Dr. Lisa Jarvis Lowery (Paul) of Little Rock; two sons, Dr. John Lowery of Champaign, IL and Michael Lowery of Little Rock; two stepdaughters, Amanda Welch (Matt) of Hickory Ridge and Anne Pate (Jesse) of Mt. View; grandchildren, Wyatt, Weston, and Gracie Pate and Emily Welch; one sister, Joyce Morris (Leon) of Searcy; five brothers, Don Lowery (Frances) and Dr. Rob Lowery (Anita) of Searcy, Dave Lowery (Betty) of Bald Knob; Jim Lowery and Tom Lowery (Donna) of Judsonia; a sister-in-law, Jolene Lowery; and numerous nieces, nephews and other extended family members. He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters Eva Mae Lowery and Thelma Hardin; and a brother, William (Bill) Lowery. He was a member of First United Methodist Church, Searcy. Dr. Ben was a graduate of White County Central High School and ASU-Jonesboro. He graduated from UAMS in 1967 and did his internship at St. John's Hospital in Tulsa, OK. He served two years with the United States Navy, stationed in Orlando, FL. He returned to Searcy as a General Practitioner in July 1970 and became a founding member of Searcy Medical Center. In 1974 he and Dr. Arlis Loe founded the Lowery-Loe Clinic. During those years, he was team physician for the Harding Academy Wildcats. He and his family moved to Tampa, FL, where he did his residency at the Univ. of So. FL Dept. of Ophthalmology from 1975 - 1978, and in July 1978 he once again returned to Searcy to found the Lowery Eye Clinic, where he was later joined by his brother, Dr. Rob, and practiced until his retirement. He served on the Searcy School Board from 1979-1990 and is a past president of the Board of the Arkansas Ophthalmology Society, where he served for three years. He was appointed to a three-year term on the State Board of Dispensing Opticians by Gov. Mike Huckabee and was reappointed by Gov. Mike Beebe. Dr. Ben estimated that he delivered 500 White County babies during his time as a general practitioner. He was extremely proud of his family and was especially proud of the medical contributions of Lowery family members to their communities. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First United Methodist Church, Searcy, or to your local chapter of the American Red Cross.