On February 8th, 1883, Burton (Bert) Bebe Lowry was born in Carl Junction, Jasper County, Missouri.  His parents were George Bebe Lowry and Clara Frances Rothanbarger Lowry both of whom were born in Missouri.

On February 16th, 1884, Neva May Britten was born in Lecoma, Dent County, Missouri.  Her parents were William Mathias Britten and Ida Atlanta Butler Britten.  William was born in Michigan and Ida in Missouri.

From this small start grew a family which now includes 6 children, 21 grandchildren, 30 great grandchildren, and 14 great great grandchildren.

While the family began in Oregon, members can now be found in 15 U.S. states, a U.S. territory (Puerto Rico) and 2 foreign countries (Spain and El Salvador).  The geography spans over 9,000 miles from Hawaii in the west to Spain in the east.

... more photos of Bert and Neva.
 

Bert left his home state of Missouri in 19?? and headed west.  He was an experienced orchardist.  It has been said that along the way he may have also spent some time in Texas.  Eventually he ended up in Hood River, Oregon where he took the position of superintendent of the Maxwelton Orchards.

While in Hood River, Bert made arrangements for Neva to travel to Oregon by train from her home in Webb City, Jasper County, Missouri.  While we can't be completely certain of her exact route, train travel from Missouri to Oregon generally followed the route of the Oregon Trail (Independence, Missouri to Oregon City, Oregon).  Webb City is only 155 miles to the south of Independence and Hood River lies just 22 miles to the west of The Dalles, Oregon which was a major location along the Oregon Trail.  Neva arrived on January 18, 1911 in Hood River, Oregon and they were married there the same day.  The minister was Rev. Handsaker of the First Christian Church.  Neva was 27 years old and Bert was 28 years old.  The best man was Albert Crocker.  They made their home on the east side section near the Maxwelton Orchards.

In November of that same year, their first child, a son, Burton George Lowry was born in Hood River, Oregon.

By 1913 the family was now in Medford, Oregon and another baby was on the way.  In April of that year, their first and only daughter Ida Lucile (Lucile) Lowry was born.  During the next six years, four more sons had been brought into this family, all born in Medford, Oregon.  David Britten Lowry, Robert Wayne (Wayne) Lowry, Wallace (Wally) Dean Lowry and Philip (Phil) Benjamin Lowry were their names.  This family of eight had many joys and many disappointments during their years in the Rogue River Valley in and around Medford in southern Oregon.  Probably most tragic was the unexpected death of their beloved mother, Neva May Britten Lowry in December of 1948 at the age of 64.

Recollections of Life with Bert and Neva Lowry

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