Rosa Bell Mackey Lowery passed away Thursday, March 22, 2018, at Merit Health River Region Hospital in Vicksburg. She was 85 years old.

Rosa was born on Aug. 27, 1932, in Vicksburg to the late Ethel Lillian Ross and John W. Mackey. Rosa’s family has lived in Vicksburg since the early 1840s. Her great-grandfather settled in Vicksburg and opened a general mercantile business.

Rosa and her husband, Odis, were married for 68 years and lived most of their married life in Vicksburg. Ms. Rosa retired from Ricky’s welding and machine shop. She also worked at TG&Y Variety store, Westinghouse Electric, and Greenville Rug Factory. She was a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother and friend.

For many years, Rosa traveled with her husband, Odis, on the river salvage jobs for Patton Tully Transportation. She sometimes served as the cook for Odis’s crew and was known for her biscuits. Rosa had two towboats named for her. Odis built a small crew towboat in their backyard and named it “Rosa”. It was used by Raymond International in the building of I-20 Bridge at Vicksburg. Odis’s crew later raised a large towboat for Patton Tully Transportation and because of his many years of devotion to the company, the company renamed the towboat the “Rosa Lowery.”

Collecting antique glass was Rosa’s passion. On her travels with Odis, she shopped at the nearby towns for glass. Her other love was flowers. She loved potting plants and planting Iris bulbs.

Rosa attended St. Francis Xavier School up until her marriage to Odis on Aug. 5, 1947. She was a hospital volunteer for many years and was a member of the Mercy Hospital Auxiliary in Vicksburg, for which she held positions as president, treasurer, and historian. Rosa was also a member of the Ladies Civitan Club, which she served a term as president.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Odis Franklin Lowery Sr.; her mother, Ethel Lillian Ross Smith; her father, John W. Mackey; stepfather, Floyd H. Smith; four sisters, Lillian White, Nancy Smiley, Catherine Austin and Vivian Pace; four brothers, John W. Mackey Jr., Joseph R. Mackey, Alexander “Jackie” B. Mackey and Robert J. Smith; grandson, Michael Farrell Lowery; and granddaughter, LaTeasha Lynn Brewer.

She is survived by two sons, Odis Franklin Lowery Jr. and Ricky Russell Lowery (Deborah) of Vicksburg; one daughter, Mary “Dean” Hampton (James) of Vicksburg; two granddaughters, Amy Hampton Marble (Barry) of Sterlington, La., and Michelle Lowery Cole (Josh) of Vicksburg; four great-grandchildren, Brittany Danielle Brewer of Vicksburg, William Hampton Marble of Sterlington, La., McKenzie and Caden Cole of Vicksburg; two sisters, Tommie Hazzlerigg of Vicksburg and Josephine Perez of New Orleans, La.

The family sends a special thanks to Dr. Daniel Edney and his staff, the staff at the Vicksburg Convalescent Home and Merit Health River Region; also, thanks to the staff and care givers from Visiting Angels Assistance Services, Stephan Biggs, Reese Daniels, Debra Hayes, Stephanie Bell, Valerie Matheson, Kathy Morgan, Erma Lovette, Renea Irwin, Eloise Davis and Joyce Hill.

A heartfelt thanks to Mrs. Asalee Cook.

Pallbearers will be Josh Cole, Barry Marble, Tony Kolb, Terry Guynes, Chris Bell, Mike McGuffie, Ronnie Andrews and Robert Bailess.

Honorary pallbearers will be Harold Soverns, Dan Daily, Dan Waring and Todd Boolos.

Service will be Monday, March 26, 2018, at 10 a.m. at Frank J. Fisher Funeral Home Chapel.

Visitation will be Sunday, March 25, 2018, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Frank J. Fisher Funeral and also Monday from 9 a.m. until the hour of service. Burial will follow at Greenlawn Gardens Cemetery.