Gordon Harrison, Lt. Colonel, USAF (Retired)
January 27, 1929 – August 03, 2011

Gordon “Slick” Harrison Lowery (Lt. Col., USAF Retired), beloved husband, father, and grandfather, passed away at his home on Wednesday, August 3, 2011, following a courageous battle with cancer. As requested, his body was donated to LSU Health Shreveport for the advancement of medical student education. His remains will eventually be buried at the Oak Grove Cemetery near the family home in Arcadia LA – birthplace of his wife, Beth, and their longtime home together.

Mr. Lowery was born in Baytown, Texas on January 27, 1929, to Arthur L. and Robena McLaughlin Lowery. The family later moved to Nacogdoches, Texas where Gordon spent the remainder of his young life. Following graduation from Stephen F. Austin University, Gordon received a commission and the rank of Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force. In 1953 he earned his pilot wings at Columbus AFB, Mississippi and eventually was rated in both fixed and rotary wing aircraft. Gordon’s first assignment was at Ramey Air Base, Puerto Rico where, while on leave at home in Nacogdoches, he met a stunning beauty and his wife of 56 years at the SFA University library – Miss Mary Beth Durrett. They were married in San Juan, Puerto Rico two months later.

Lieutenant Colonel Lowrey’s Air Force career spanned more than 29 years with multiple assignments in the continental United States, as well as Southeast Asia and Latin America. His special operations experience in Vietnam resulted in his assignment as the Commandant of the USAF Jungle Survival School located at Clark Air Force Base, Philippines. Following multiple deployments to Vietnam, Laos, and other undisclosed locations in theater, Gordon and his family were relocated to Latin America where he served the remainder of his military career. During this time, Gordon had the enviable opportunity to fly the remarkable P-51 Mustang operationally with the Air Force of the Dominican Republic.

Following his retirement from the U.S. Air Force, Gordon and Beth returned to Arcadia, LA where they lived for the next years.

Gordon is survived by his wife, his daughter and his son-in-law. He will be desperately missed by his three adoring grandchildren whose lives he enriched daily until the end and two brothers; His many lifelong friends and extended family mourn the loss of the tall, quiet man and his very large heart.

The family wishes to express sincere gratitude to Dr. Jan Hood, Dr. Jay Marion and staff at LSU Health Shreveport, Dr. Scott Boniol and staff at Christus Schumpert, Charlotte and Nancy at St. Joseph Hospice.

They give special thanks for the support received from their family at the Mighty 8th Air Force, 307th and 2nd Bomb Wings, 917th Fighter Group, and all their friends and colleagues at Barksdale Air Force base. To Gordon’s boyhood friends, Dr. Vyrne Shofner and Mr. Richard Aills, the family is very grateful that you were there for Slick-as always.

In lieu of flowers, it is requested that memorial contributions be made to Feist-Weiller Cancer Center, 1501 Kings Hwy, Shreveport, LA 71103.

Burial information: Oak Grove Cemetery, Oak Grove, LA.

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Captain Lowery served a Vietnam War tour as a CH-3E pilot with the 20th Helicopter Sq. “Pony Express” in the 1968-1969-time frame.