Mack Towery Obituary (1942 - 2011) - Broken Bow, Oklahoma

Mack Allen Towery Sr., 68 of Lakeside, Texas went to Heaven on January 12, 2011 after a heroic battle with cancer. Mack was born in China Springs, Texas August 2, 1942. He graduated from Wright City High School in 1961 and soon after began a career with Santa Fe Railroad in Amarillo, Texas. He retired in 2003 after 37 years of dedicated work. He married Iva Jo Andoe in 1962 and had planned to celebrate 49 years of marriage in February. Mack was very creative and he used these talents in a multitude of ways. He added on to his home in Amarillo, he gutted and re-built his home in Lakeside and was always helping his children build, add and improve their own homes. He was a talented welder and used his skill not only practically, but to design and create beautiful artwork. A small example of his creativeness is when he saw a birdhouse he liked and went home and built his grandchildren elaborate birdhouses reflective of their own personalities. This very small example does not dignify the elaborate and intricate things he would design and build. We could not even begin to list the extent of his talents and how his mind was constantly turning thinking of things he could create for others, merely to show his affection for them. In fact, his first granddaughter Sierra was convinced that all the toys and bicycles that she saw in the stores were made by him, she called him The Maker. When not doing this he was participating in clubs and activities with his children. He was an Indian Guide with his son, he was a Cub Scout leader with his grandsons, a baseball coach, a volunteer and a friend. He loved people and never met a stranger. He had an infectious smile that could make even the coldest person feel warm. He had a way about him that made people feel comfortable in his presence and they would walk away from him feeling appreciated and worthy. He was very humorous and he gave more than his fair share of laughter to a cold and unrelenting world. Mack worked hard all his life and never expected to be given anything he did not himself earn. He gave his time, energy and money to those in need and never asked for anything in return. He took pride in his family and savored every minute that he had with him. His only regret, in his last days, was that he would no longer have his family with him, to love, guide and cherish. His friends became his cherished confidants, his acquaintances became his friends and those he had not yet met were the sparkle in his smile. Mack is survived by his beautiful wife of 48 years, Iva Jo Towery, his children and their spouses, Mack Allen Jr. and his wife Kathy, Karen Towery-Strickland and her husband Leland all of Fort Worth and John Kelly Towery of Denver, Colorado. Children that he chose out of pure love, daughter Carole Burnell and son Ron Burnell survive him. He has 5 grandchildren, Sierra Renee, Journey Marie, Mack Allen III or better known as Trey, Leland Seth and Mackenna Grace. He has 2 more grandchildren that he chose out of pure love, Colton Lee and Abbie Nicole. Mack is also survived by his stepmother Nona Towery of Broken Bow, a sister Betty Watkins of Wright City and a brother Joe Towery of Ringgold. He leaves behind numerous nephews and nieces and friends that number in the thousands. Mack is preceded in death by his father John Allen, his mother Nina Sue and his precious sister Mary Elizabeth too... what a glorious reunion they must be having. The Family wants to thank everyone who loved Mack and sent innumerable prayers for his healing and the comfort of his family. Your encouragement and loyal dedication will be forever cherished. Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away Mack.you took our breath away!Cemetery:Slater Memorial CemeteryVisitation:Visitation will be held on January 16, 2011 from 4pm 6pm at Brumley Funeral Home.Service:The family will be celebrating the wonderful life Mack lived on January 17, 2011 at 2pm at First Baptist Church of Wright City. Celebrations will be led by Pastor Dennis Baw from Glenview Baptist Church of Fort Worth, where Mack attended and was a member. Funeral services for Mack are provided through Brumley Funeral Home in Broken Bow, Oklahoma. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Mack Towery, please visit our floral store.