Maude Crompton Lowe

Maude Crompton Lowe "What can I be doing?"

Maude Crompton Lowe passed away July 3, 2011, in Bountiful, Utah. Born May 18, 1914, in Brigham City, Utah, she was the third of five children of Eugene Henry and Bertha Elizabeth Holman Crompton.

Maude spent her early years in Brigham City, and she learned to work hard when, at age nine, she moved in with an uncle and aunt to help with their children and housekeeping. During her teen years she moved with her mother and siblings to the Avenues in Salt Lake City. She graduated from West High School in 1932.

Maude married William Lowe (Bill) in 1936, (later solemnized in the Salt Lake LDS Temple) forming a partnership in which, for almost 62 years, they modeled for their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren the ways in which articulate, loving, hardworking, and thoroughly decent parents conduct themselves and their family. They lived in California and Colorado as well as in Utah. Bill died November 4, 1997.

Even when employed full-time Maude managed to provide hot breakfasts for her children, bake bread, and preserve untold bushels of the fruit and vegetables she cultivated in her lush garden, where she also grew flowers (especially prizewinning roses). An expert seamstress, she spent countless nights making stunning prom dresses, tailored coats, extraordinary school clothes, and flannel nightgowns that were long enough to keep the feet of her tall daughters warm. In later years, one of her favorite projects was crocheting beautiful dolls, which she donated to orphanages in Eastern Europe.

She traveled to 48 states as well as to Canada but had a particular love for Utah''s red rock country (and for rocks, in general). After retirement, she was able to realize her lifelong dream of traveling the world, including visits to Russia, Israel and Greece. She made twenty-three extended trips to Europe, mostly in the company of her daughter De-An, who, having long lived abroad, served as her able guide. Her special homemade fudge was appreciated throughout the world, as she shared it wherever she went.

A lifelong learner, Maude began studying the piano in her seventies and the computer in her eighties, and she quickly became proficient at both. She had an unerring ability to find the harmony when singing any given song. Music and singing were essential to our household (and car) and we sang constantly. Maude and Bill''s children were fortunate to grow up in such a sunny, funny, music-filled home.

Maude was an avid reader with a voracious interest in world history. Combining interests in travel and history, she completed thousands of hours of genealogical research--visiting cemeteries and libraries the world over to trace some family branches as far back as the seventh century. Embracing an intrepid sense of adventure inherited from her ancestors, she was a proud member of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers, and the Mayflowers Society.

She served in many positions in the LDS Church, worked for many years as an election judge, and was a generous and enthusiastic volunteer in several community organizations.

Competent and unflappable in crises of every description a€" from sudden illness or traumatic injury to clothing that was ruined minutes before an important event a€" she knew exactly what was required and calmly "took care of things." She was a font of sage wisdom and practical advice.

Maude enjoyed almost a century of robust health, and she had boundless strength and energy, which she cheerfully shared with anyone who needed it. Even in her nineties, she never disembarked from an airplane without helping an encumbered young mother manage her burdens. She liked to keep busy well into her ninety-eighth year, often running circles around her caregivers. She was the consummate grandmother, and each grandchild, great-grandchild, and great-great-grandchild, in their turn, was treated as her favorite.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her dear husband, Bill; her beloved daughter, De-An Lowe; her sisters, Beth White; Donna Johnson; Carma Sawyer; and her brother, Valgene Crompton.

Four of her five children survive her: Linda Clifford; William Lowe II; Patricia Stott; and Barbara Dickerhoof. She also leaves twelve grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.

Family and friends may visit Saturday, July 9, 2011 at Lindquist''s Bountiful Mortuary, 727 N. 400 E. from 12-1:00 pm with graveside services following at 2:00 pm at the Brigham City Cemetery, 495 E. 500 S. Brigham City, Utah. In accordance with Maude''s wishes there will be no viewing.