Emma Lou Lowe

Emma Lou Lowe, born November 4, 1938, in Kingsport, Tennessee, to Roxie (Peters) and George Nelms, passed peacefully on November 23, 2025, surrounded by the love of her family. She was 87 years old, though she would insist she didn’t look a day over 70—and truthfully, she didn’t.

Emma Lou grew up in East Tennessee with her three sisters, two of whom welcomed her home again in heaven. She graduated from Sullivan High School, carrying with her the down-to-earth charm and quiet strength that would come to define her life.

In the 1950s, she moved to Kokomo, Indiana, in search of work and opportunity, eventually retiring from Delco after a long and dedicated career. Her years there shaped her in enduring ways: dependable, sharp-witted, and quietly stubborn in all the right moments.

She spent 35 years with Jack Robert Lowe, raising children, creating a home, and sharing the kind of memories that only decades together can produce. Though their paths later diverged, their story lived on through the family they built.

Following the heartbreaking loss of her son, David Lowe, in 2001, Emma Lou relocated to Antioch, Tennessee, where she embraced a new chapter. She took great pride in her beautifully kept condominium—decorated to absolute perfection—and she loved traveling with her senior group in Murfreesboro. If there was a bus trip, a schedule, and a group of people laughing too loudly, Emma Lou was probably in the front seat with her purse zipped and ready to go.

Her greatest joy was her family. She is survived by her sons Jack “Rob” Lowe and Jim (Clark) Lowe; granddaughter Tierney Shepherd (Logan); and great-grandsons Carter Hurd, Kylar Hurd, Vincent Shepherd, and Lincoln Shepherd. She loved each of them fiercely, proudly, and sometimes with a little extra advice—wanted or not.

Emma Lou shared many cherished years of friendship with Donna Grantham and Lola Bowley, companions in countless conversations, outings, and everyday moments. She also cared for a long line of beloved pets who were treated, without question, like royalty.

Those who knew her will remember her kindness, humor, resilience, and unmistakable Emma-Lou-ness—a blend of grace, grit, and just enough sass to keep everyone on their toes.

We will forever miss her.

In keeping with Emma’s wishes, no services will be held.  Shirley & Stout Funeral Home & Crematory has been entrusted with cremation. Messages of condolence may be left online at www.shirleyandstout.com. 

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.