Gaynell McKenzie Polston Lowry

1917 - 2012  (94 years)

• Name	Gaynell McKenzie Polston Lowry
  Nickname	Nell
  Born	17 Dec 1917	Union City, Obion County, Tennessee
  Gender	Female
  Died	6 Dec 2012	Wamego, Pottawatomie County, Kansas
  Cremated	Cremated
  Person ID	I5364	Rossville
  Last Modified	27 Dec 2019

  
  

  Father	Jessie H McKenzie
  Mother	Idella Smith McKenzie
  Family ID	F5278	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 1	Ralph Polston
  Married	17 Jan 1938	Mississippi County, Missouri
  Children	1. Juanita Joanne Polston Simpson,   d. 1989
  Last Modified	18 Oct 2017 15:50:05
  Family ID	F5279	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 2	Oren W Lowry,   d. 15 Oct 1990
  Married	15 Dec 1951	Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee
  Last Modified	24 Dec 2019 16:53:18
  Family ID	F5280	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Documents

  Obituary- Lowry, Gaynell Gaynell ‘Nell’ Lowry Gaynell “Nell” Lowry, 94, formerly of Holton, passed away Thursday evening, Dec. 6, 2012, at Valley Vista Good Samaritan Center in Wamego. Gaynell was born Dec. 17,1917, in Union City, Tenn., the daughter of Jessie H. and Idella (Smith) McKenzie. Nell attended Reel Foot School in Calton,Tenn. When she was 15, the family moved to Graves County, Kentucky. At the age of 17 she accepted Christ at Free Will Baptist Church in Pea Ridge, Ky. She attended First Baptist Church in Holton until moving to Wamego to be closer to family. She then attended the First Baptist Church in Wamego. On Jan. 17,1938, she married Ralph Polston in Mississippi County, Mo. To this union, a daughter, Juanita Joanne, was born. On Dec. 15, 1951, Nell married Oren W. Lowry in Memphis, Tenn. In September of 1958 the couple moved to Wetmore, Kansas. Gaynell operated a cafe in Wetmore, worked at the garment factory in Holton until its closing, and was an Avon distributor for many years. Oren preceded her in death Oct. 15, 1990. She was also preceded in death by her daughter Juanita Simpson in 1989, her granddaughter Debbie Simpson in 1984, and her brothers, Lois H. McKenzie, J.W. McKenzie, Jessie McKenzie. Nell is survived by her grandson, Pat Manning and his wife Hanna of Wamego; her four great-grandchildren, Nicholas Manning, Phil Manning, Pamela Manning and James A. Manning; her great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews; as well as her beloved First Baptist Church family and friends. It was Gaynell’s wish to be cremated. Memorial services and internment will be held at a later date. Memorials may sent in Gaynell’s name for the First Baptist Church of Wamego and may be left in care of Mercer Funeral Home, P.O. Box 270, Holton, KS 66436.