Ed Lowe

On November 6, Ed Lowe passed away at peace on the banks of the Rio Grande in Boquillas Canyon of Big Bend National Park—his favorite place on this earth. He was an unfailingly devoted father, grandfather, brother, uncle, servant leader, and friend, and his presence in this world will be missed beyond measure.

Ed grew up here in Dallas in University Park, where he made lifelong friends. Growing up, Ed’s love for the outdoors and gathering loved ones around food were cultivated by his beloved parents Jack and Harriet. Ed graduated from Highland Park High School, where he was a member of the fighting Scots football team. He went on to the University of Texas at Austin, where he lived on Lake Austin and learned about the “hippie” lifestyle—he later cut his hair, but never gave up the ethos of social justice, environmental advocacy and the occasional smoke. Ed came home a few years later to start Celebration Restaurant and Leather. Celebration was his lifelong passion project. At Celebration, Ed lived his values mentoring countless employees, whom he lovingly referred to as “partners,” many of whom have stuck around for decades and have become a part of Ed’s extended family of friends of all ages, colors, and from all walks of life. Ed spent countless days enjoying rivers, mountains, sunrises and sunsets in Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas with his daughters, friends and family. He not only enjoyed the natural beauty of these places, but undertook it as his duty to do what he could to protect them for future generations.

Ed has two daughters, Carrie and Hayley. Ed believed his duty as a father was to love unconditionally and support his daughters in any way he could in pursuing their dreams. He did just that and they have flourished because of him. He had a stalwart commitment to instilling the values in his daughters that he believed would bring them fulfillment and enable them to also leave this world a better place—humility, loyalty, kindness, courage, love of the outdoors, service to others and dedication to a good fight—values he embodied. His girls adore him and he was a best friend to them both.

In the last decade, Ed thrived in the role of “Granddaddy” to Carrie’s three children, his beloved, Aiden, Emery, and Townes Edward. Each of them had the honor and privilege of riding down the river in Granddaddy’s canoe. Down the river and through other shared adventures, he built a unique and close bond with each of them.

Ed loved his extended Lowe family and made evident his commitment to cultivating each of those relationships. One of his greatest joys and accomplishments were annual Lowe family river trips where he relished watching his extended family paddle down the Llano river and bond around the campfire. His siblings, Jack, Ann, and Bob, were among his best friends and confidantes. He adored his nieces and nephews and their children and made time to build a special relationship with each of them.

Ed’s father, Jack Lowe Sr., Bill Dickinson, and John Graves were his mentors and guided his commitment to service to others, big heartedness, love of the natural world and dedication to family. We believe he has joined them along with his brother, Hank Williams, and best friends, Gordon Hebert and Steve Melton.

All are invited to celebrate Ed’s life on November 19, at 3pm, at Highland Park United Methodist Church, with reception to follow at the Frontiers of Flight Museum.

In lieu of flowers, the Lowe family appreciates your contributions to continuing Ed’s legacy through a donation to the Jack and Harriet Lowe Fund at Communities Foundation of Texas (https://www.cftexas.org/jack-and-harriet-lowe-fund or 5500 Caruth Haven Lane, Dallas, TX 75225) or the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment (https://donate.txstate.edu/meadows or 601 University Drive, San Marcos, TX 78666 *please note Ed Lowe in comments). Funds will be used to continue Ed’s dedication to the conservation of Texas rivers and to supporting Jack Lowe Sr. Elementary, including maintaining the community garden started by Ed.