William “Bill” V. Lowry Jr. passed away Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012, from a long battle with cancer. He was born in Tekoa, Wash., to William and Elsie Lowry on Jan. 18, 1930, and was educated there. He graduated from Tekoa High in 1948. Bill was very active in sports and lettered for four years in three sports.

His journey toward his Lowry Trucking firm started when he acquired a gas powered log truck that was payment for an outstanding debt owed to him. He has built from that humble beginning to a fleet of 27 Diesel trucks, loaders and Low Boys and employs 30 people.

Bill is a member of the BPOE Elks, founder member of the Associated Logging Contractors, Jaycees of Tekoa and previous owner of the Highlands Golf Course.

After high school, he married Virginia Inscore and had two daughters, Vickie and Nikki. They were later divorced. In 1962 he married Billie Posey. They had three children and with her two sons raised a blended family of seven children.

Since 1997 Bill and Billie have spent the winters in Sun City West, Ariz., enjoying the sun and pursuing their passion for golf.

Bill is survived by his wife, Billie at the family home; three daughters, Vickie (Skip) Sampson of Dalton, Nikki (Mark) Russell of Nine Mile Falls, Wash., and Lisa (Mike) Vuittonet of Boise; four sons, Jim Taylor, Duffy Taylor, both of Coeur d’Alene, Bob (Cindy) Lowry of Hayden and Bill III (Trudi) Lowry of Princeton. He is also survived by 17 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and his brother, Robert (Kay) Lowry of Seattle. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Phyllis Muehle and grandson Cody Lowry.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to Hospice of North Idaho: 9493 N. Government Way, Hayden, ID 83835.

Viewing will be held from noon-12:45 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 18, 2012, at Yates funeral Home, Coeur d’Alene Chapel (744 N. Fourth St., Coeur d’Alene) followed by funeral service at 1 p.m. with graveside service immediately following at Forest Cemetery. The family request casual attire. Please visit Bill’s online memorial and sign his guest book at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.