Ernest Havely Lowe
May 2, 1936 ~ January 12, 2008
Resided in:
Asheville, NC
Ernest H. Lowe, 71, died Saturday, January 12, 2008, in a local hospital.
A native of Morristown, Tennessee, he was the son of the late Guy F. and Bertha Dickerson Lowe.
He was retired and was a veteran of the Korean Conflict, serving in the U.S. Navy. Mr. Lowe was a member of the Open Door Cathedral at the Seventh Day Adventist Church, where he served as pianist. For over 30 years, he traveled the country playing and singing southern gospel music.
He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Cleta Harper Lowe; son, Anthony Lowe of Asheville; two sisters, Kathleen Coxie of Asheville and Ann Rockwell of Johnson City, Tennessee and his brother, Charlie Lowe of Bethel.
A funeral service will be held at 12:00 P.M., Wednesday at the Open Door Cathedral at the Seventh Day Adventist Church, 375 Hendersonville Road conducted by the Reverends Charles Coxie and Wally Odom. Pallbearers will be Robert Rockwell, Nathan Rhew, Dustin Powers, Eugene Lowe, Jimmy Lowe and Adrian McCurry. Interment will follow in the Western Carolina State Veterans Cemetery with military rites conducted by the Buncombe County Veterans Council Memorial Team.
The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 9:00 P.M. Tuesday at Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian.
View current weather.
Memories Timeline
Guestbook
Sign the Guestbook, Light a Candle
You are in my thoughts & prayers.
Dear Cleta and Anthony, we are so very sorry for your loss. Ernie was such a special man, and always had a fun word for everyone he met. I bet he is telling jokes like crazy when he’s not playing and singing as only he could do. He was such a talented man in many ways! I know all those who have gone on are enjoying having him there too, and someday we will all be together again just as I remember it back when we were all together at the Temple, but it will be such much more greater there with our heavenly Father worshiping with us. We love you guys and you will be in our thoughts and prayers!
Love,
Sherry & Steve Lindsey
To family and friends – My prayers and thoughts are with you at this time. Ernest will suffer no more. Blessings and peace, Betty Nelon Rhodes (Britt & Tilson, Ret.)
We are saddened at the lost of Ernest. We loved him very much and will miss him alot. Our prayers are with you Cleta and Anthony. Love Phyllis and Jim.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you in this time of sorrow.He was a great man .Now he is playing the piano for the Great Heavenly Father.
Cleta and Anthony, We are so very sorry about your loss. Ernest was a precious man that always brought a smile to your face or had something so funny to say that you couldn’t stop laughing. I have great memories of him and he will be so missed. I’m sure Granny and Pop were elated to see him. Know that our prayers are with you and take comfort in knowing that he made it to the very throne of God, what a priviledge! We will see him again! We love you both so very much!
Kevin,Tracy,Lauren,Ale’ and Dylan Hensley
Cleta, Anthony, & Family,
What a great loss for us, but what a joy for those gone on, to see Ernie coming thru the gates. Don’t you know, it was a hallelujah meeting that morning, and yesterday was Ernie’s first Sunday in heaven. What a worship time they must have had! I’m sure we will all miss him greatly, especially his sweet smile. But, take heart, beloved ones, it won’t be long until we will be united around the throne of God. I pray peace of heart for you, and hope with courage to keep on until we all are together again. Love, Rita
Cleta & Anthony, I know we have been through a lot these last few days. Ernie is in heaven and playing in heaven now. He has no more pain. MIke and I are here for you guys if you need anything. He will be missed but only for a short while and soon we will be there with him..
To Cleta,Anthony and the rest of the Lowe family: we know your hearts are heavy with the loss of Ernest right now but may our prayers help you find the peace that only our Father can give. Just hold on to the promise he has given us that we will see him again some day soon.I cannot tell you how many times he has blessed us with his god given talent to play that piano like only he could. We have so many wonderful memories of the times that we spent in church together when our children were still growing up and the church would be packed out with standing room only at times. Ernest has touched so many lives with his talent and his goodnes. May you find strength and peace in knowing that he is at rest now and he was loved by so many.Sending our love and prayers to each of you.
Goodbye Uncle Ernest, I still remember you scaring Aunt Elane…good times.
Aunt Cleta and Anthony, Please know that all of us send our thoughts and prayer to you and your extended family during this time. Even though we do not talk to often and see each other even less, please know that we do love you very much. Tiffne
Anthony and Cleta I am so sorry for you loss and the fact that I have not contacted you sooner but, i just found out. please know that my heart goes out to you and that if I can do anything or be there for you In any way , I am there. I hope you are doing well. Once again, please know that I love you both and am deeply saddened by the loss. Please call 828-215-7746
Love
Randy Moses
OUR DEAR SWEET ANTHONY, PLEASE KNOW THAT WE ARE ALL THINKING OF, AND PRAYING FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY DURING THIS TIME OF GREAT SORROW. MAY YOUR HEART FEEL THE WARMTH OF OUR LOVE
TERRI,TRESSA & AND THE GANG
We are deeply sadned to here of Ernests passing. we havent seen any of the family in some time but you all were always in our thoughts and prayers. If there is anything any of us can do please call.828-253-2050.May God bring the peace that can only come from him in this time of sorrow.
Marie, Sharon,Cindy, Ricky, michael,
So sorry for the lose Didn’t realy get to know him just knew him from the temple but god bless you all. All my love Samantha Norton
Cleta and Anthony, I know there is not much to say to make this better for you! But know this you will see him again. He is hearing music like we could not evening imagine. God has such great things for us. I know He is sitting at a piano that is so beautiful that he cant quit starring at it and He is playing and Worshiping The Lord with the music that he is hearing in heaven because, that is what he does Music he has never played, and not missing a beat.
I will always have good thoughts of ernie He always encouraged me when I felt i didn’t measure up, He made me feel that I did.
I love the way you guys call each other Mamma,Daddy and Baby. He made me laugh alot.He always had a joke to tell, I love him very much and he will be greatly missed!! I will do anything I can to help you in anyway!I Love You so much!
Robin, Bobby and Zack
cleta & son we are going to miss ernest a lot because we loved him so much.Iam praying that we can make it though this heart ack you know you are family to me we have went to church for over 30 years together .one day we will all be in heaven to gether that will be a happy time…I will be praying for the family love martha gann
Dear Cleta & Anthony, Our hearts break for you at this very hard time you are going through. Ernie always meant a lot to both of us, Johnny said Sunday I guess I will never sing again, Ernest had played for me for 55 years and He knew what I was going to do before I did. He brought many happy times to us and our family. We remember especially our good time we had with you all at Grove Park Inn and what a treat that was, We could go on and on but Ernie was a special, loving person and was like a brother to Johnny rather than an uncle. He will surely be missed, but he has gained what we are all working for, his work is finished, He fought a good fight and now He is where we will all be together again. We love you. Betty and Johnny
Thanks to my friendship with Anthony, I was fortunate enough to meet Mr and Mrs Lowe. After the passing my father, The Lowes made me one of thier own. I alway looked to Mr Lowe for guidance and a good joke. He would also call me and say Mama made some Chicken ‘N dumplings, you need to come on over. I will truly miss him. I am grateful to have each of you in my life. My thoughts and prayers are with you and if I can do anything please let me know.
I am so sorry to hear of Ernie’s passing. He was truly a wonderful man and I have many funnny memories of him. I pray that God’s peace be with you Cleta and Anthony.
So saddend to hear about Ernest, wow what a piano player and a great addtions to Gods band! With loving thoughts and prayers to Cleta and all of Ernest’s family.
Joan Grooms
Cleta and Anthony , words cannot express what I felt for Ernie , but just a note to you from here , If I ever make it and see him again I may get sent the other way cause if I have to steal a cup or bowl from the table ,
Ernie will be getting a haircut just like the one he gave me … just hope the angels are slow so I can whip by them fast enuff to do the job ! He was my friend and I loved Ernie very much , he better just look out if I make it is all I have to say ! That is if mom and dad don’t catch me first … I love you guys and he is waiting for you … and little ole coon will be waiting for the haircut , you can bet on that one … maybe James Blalock can trip over something long enuff for me to do this and keep eyes away off me for a sec … oh happy day that will be for all of us .. I love you both …
Cleta, So sorry for your loss, Ernnie will be missed by lot’s of people. It is our loss but God’s gain. He was a wonderful person to know. Lot’s of love,
Teresa,Brandon & Brannon Gann
I will always remember Ernie for being so funny . I would come to the Lowe home and visit or have supper if I planned it right and during those visits Ernie never allowed his illness or circumstances get him down. And boy could he play that piano like no other. He knows now that He really touched a lot of people with his love for music and the piano. So Ernie play that brand new piano and play it proud !!! You will be missed. With much love and respect. Bruce smith
I heard about Ernest from Rosa Lee’s kids and am very sorry this has happened to you guys. I will be back in NC and VA in August this year and perhaps on my way back to Texas I can stop by and say hi!. I suppose no one will recognize anybody else but I will be riding a big motorcycle. Love, Butch(Gary) Freck
Dearest Cleta,Anthony and Family,
Like everyone else my heart is breaking for you. There never was or ever will be another one like Earnest. Except you Anthony, you are so much like your Dad. Just as handsome, just as sweet and just as talented in your singing. There are so many wonderful memories of when our families got together and played music and sang. I don’t know of anyone that could even take two spoons and play music with them like Ernest.
I don’t remember a time that you didn’t see him smiling and having a good time. Ernest always made everyone seem special. When all the time, he was the special one.
Cleta and Anthony, I know that the days ahead of you will be hard. But Ernest will be watching over you from Heaven’s portal. He will be waiting for you to join him someday. And I don’t think it will be long until God calls all of His children home. What a wonderful reunion that will be. I know the minute Ernest got home, that God said, I’ve been waiting for you Son, I needed you here to play this golden piano for me. So Cleta and Anthony know that so many are praying for you and hurting with you. That Ernest will forever be alive in our hearts and memories. With love and prayers, Carolyn
Dear Cleta,
I am so sorry to hear about your loss. I am just hearing about it from Janis as I have been to stay with my Mom for a while.
Please know my thoughts and prayers with be with you and Anthony.
Love, Elaine (Larry’s wife)
To my loving uncle:
How I will miss your laugh, smile, ‘four eyes’, and hugs.
How I will miss the way you told a joke.
How I will miss the way you played Amazing Grace on the organ or piano.
How I will miss reminiscing of summers gone by and ferris wheel rides with you at the recreation park.
How I will miss watching you put hot sauce on eggs and everything else that was on your plate.
How I will miss seeing you wear an apron while cooking and chasing after chickens for fresh eggs in the backyard on Blalock Avenue.
How I will miss listening to stories of you and dad panning for ‘rubies’.
How I will miss you so.
With sympathy and prayers to Ernest,s family. He was a great musician and a good friend when we were young men. He will be greatly missed but in good company with our Lord.