LEON J. LOWERY

Dateline/Kingman

Leon J. Lowery, 87, passed away peacefully at Wheatlands Rest Home on Sept. 1, 2019.

He was born in Kingman on March 30, 1932 to Thomas J. and Agnes S. Wallace Lowery. Leon graduated from Norwich High School in 1950. He was drafted into the Army and served from 1952-1954. Leon received his Flight Engineer License at Spartan Flight School in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1960. Leon flew for Flying Tigers Airline from 1962-1992. He moved up to Co-Pilot in 1972, and became Captain on DC-8-63 in 1976. Leon checked out as Captain on Boeing 747 in 1980. He flew many trips carry Troops and Supplies into Vietnam, Japan, Hong Kong and Korea. Leon also flew flights of Air Cargo and Military Passengers, carrying Horses, Deer, Dogs, Cows and Pigs to various countries. Leon retired from Fed-Ex in 1992, after the company bought Flying Tigers Airlines.

Leon married Ayako Suda on Sept. 16, 1970 in Tokyo, Japan. Ayako passed away on April 21, 2017. Leon is survived by twin sisters Joyce Elaine Reida (Arnold Ray), Joanne Estelle Ziegler (Carl J); sister-in-law Karen McCullough Lowery (Darwin); nieces Sandra Kay Brown (Bryan), Diana Jo Thornton (Andy), Tiffany Jill Holmes (Jay); nephews Brian Paul Ziegler, Thomas Jeffery Lowery, Terry James Lowery and 6 children; Grand-nieces Emily Thornton, Jenna Thornton, Erin Bryce Holmes, Jordan Paige Holmes, Emma Grace Lowery; Grand-nephews Jason Ray Reida, Thomas Jackson Lowery. Leon was preceded in death by his parents Thomas J Lowery and Agnes S. Lowery; his brother Darwin F. Lowery; and nephew Sammy Ray Reida.

Funeral services will be 10:00 a .m., Friday, at the Kingman United Methodist Church. Friends may call from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Thursday at the Livingston Funeral Home. Burial will be in the Walnut Hill Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the Kingman Co. Humane Society in care of the funeral home.