Velma McNeil Lowry, 97, of Mt. Vernon, IL, died 2:50 p.m. Saturday, August 29, 2015 at SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital in Mt. Vernon.
Velma was born June 24, 1918, in Tolono, Illinois the daughter of Asa Eli and Estella (Merriman) Newell. She was a member of the Mt. Vernon Baptist Temple.

Velma is survived by her children, Donna Kay Pollard of Austell, Georgia, Michael Earl McNeil of Belle Rive, and Debra J. Launay and husband Paul of Mt. Vernon; grandchildren, Melanie McKinnon, Ernie Pollard, Shane McNeil and wife Jamie, Michael Launay and wife Polly, Justin Launay and wife Susan, Makenzie Schettler and husband Ben, and Lacy Griffin and husband Keith; seven great-grandchildren, Amy Norton, Sarah McKinnon, Jude Griffin, Melina, Seth, Jillian and Nathan Launay; and also two great-great-grandchildren, Kylie Schelmidt, and Dylan Norton.

In addition to her parents, Mrs. Lowry was preceded in death by her three husbands, Paul Capp, Earl H. McNeil and Doval Lowry; sister, Gladys Wells Lacey; four brothers, Joel, Russell, Frances and William Herbert Newell; daughter-in-law, Gloria McNeil; and also a son-in-law, Ernest Pollard.

Funeral service for Velma McNeil Lowry will be held 1 p.m. Thursday, September 3, 2015 at Newell Funeral Home in Mt. Vernon with Rev. Ron Reynolds officiating. Interment will follow at Mt. Vernon Memorial Gardens Cemetery in rural Woodlawn. Visitation will be held on Thursday, from 11 a.m. until service time at the funeral Home.

For more information you may call Newell Funeral Home at 246-0100 or visit www.newellfuneralhome.com.

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