Margaret Eileen Lowe

Margaret “Eileen” Coulter Lowe, age 95, passed away peacefully on Thursday, January 21, 2021, and went to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Eileen was born in Walland, Tennessee on December 10, 1925, and at age 10 she and her family moved to the farm at Coulter Bridge. She loved life there with her family and could often be found picking strawberries and vegetables from the garden, helping get the cows in, playing in the hay loft, riding mules, swimming in the river, and learning to be a wonderful cook under the direction of her mother. Sundays found her family at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church and afternoons were spent having fun with the 26 Coulter cousins. Eileen graduated from Walland High School and Maryville College, and also did graduate work at The University of Tennessee. She is well known and loved for her work as an educator of 41 years. Her teaching career began at Chilhowee View Elementary School as a fifth-grade teacher where she also sponsored the 4-H Club. She assisted students with projects related to farming and home life and developed long lasting friendships with students and parents during her six years in this close-knit community. She later transitioned to ninth grade English at Everett High School where she helped sponsor the Pep Club, Future Teachers of America, The National Honor Society and homecoming committee preparations. After 13 years as an English teacher she was asked to move into a position as a guidance counselor. With her expertise in oral and written skills, along with her warm, outgoing, caring personality, she was a great fit for this position. She served in this position at Everett for 8 years, and then an additional 14 years at the newly opened Heritage High School. During her tenure in education she considered it an honor and blessing to have been able to contribute to the personal and educational goals of so many students and has always been extremely proud of their many successes. Eileen was a member of First Baptist Church of Maryville where she served as a Sunday School teacher, a VBS leader, worked with the ladies jail ministry, and also sang in the adult choir for 50 years. She was a Golden Sister of the Alpha Delta Kappa teacher’s sorority, and in 2020 was chosen for the Blount County Educator’s Hall of Fame for her outstanding contributions in education. Eileen was known as a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, and a special sister and loyal and encouraging friend. She enjoyed traveling, special family times, shopping, and just being on the go. She was known for her sweetness, her kindness and patience, and for her strong faith. Eileen is preceded in death by her parents, Andrew Houston Coulter and Anna Elizabeth Waters Coulter; her husband of 55 years, Gerald (Jerry) Thomas Lowe; son, Randy Thomas Lowe; sister, Mary “June” Coulter Walker Daniels. She is survived by brothers and sisters-in-law, Harold and Pat Coulter, Max and Betty Coulter, all of Maryville; daughter, Terri Lowe Teague and son-in-law, Randy; grandchildren, Ryan and Staci Teague, Julie and Matt Compton; and great-grandchildren, Sarah and Anna Teague, Coulter, Carter, and Cohen Compton. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephews; and her caregiver and special friend, Angie Edwards. Due to the safety threats of Covid-19, Eileen will be laid to rest at a private family service. A Celebration of Life service will be held in late spring or early summer. Memorials may be made in Eileen’s name to the music program at First Baptist Church of Maryville, the educational scholarship program of the Maryville Alpha Delta Kappa teacher’s sorority, checks can be made out to the Epsilon Chapter ADK: Janice McPherson, 2610 Orton Drive, Maryville, TN 37804 or Pleasant Grove Baptist Church. Condolences may be shared at Smith Funeral & Cremation Service, Maryville, 865-983-1000, www.SmithFuneralandCremation.com. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Margaret Eileen Lowe please visit our Sympathy Store.