Bessie "Mei" Sue Lowe

She passed away on March 24, 2019 at the age of 91 in Hanford, California.

Bessie grew up in Portland, Oregon as the oldest of eight siblings to Frank Ying Sue and Bessie Sing Louie, Chinese immigrants from the Toishan district outside Canton, China. She worked as an X-Ray technician at St. Vincent Hospital in Portland. It was here that she began showing the world her love of music; with her wit and charm, she would coach the patients and nurses on how to sing. Her true passion was in music, which she would pursue boldly. She received her Master’s in Music at San Francisco State University where she performed and studied opera and perfected her skill at the piano. It was her love of teaching voice that would ultimately drive her to the Central Valley of California in 1965 to teach music in Lemoore, CA at the elementary school on the naval base, where she taught for 23 years.

Here, she instructed her students firmly in the classics, and taught them to be confident in performance. She directed students to perform notables such as Schubert’s Die Forelle and Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel. She then met Mr. Van Lowe, a Chinese immigrant and businessman in Hanford, CA, who had founded the Kings County Symphony. They were married in 1966 and together supported the orchestra. Bessie has been a past president and active board member of the Symphony which continues to deliver their vision to bring quality music to this community.

In 2015, Bessie was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award for her contributions to the Kings Symphony Orchestra for over 50 years. She also has served as a member of the China Alley Preservation Society in Hanford and was an avid world traveler. She remains an inspiration to us all, both in her achievements and her character. She leaves behind not only her contributions to our world, but also the legacy of a powerful woman defined by strength, determination, and will to overcome anything set before her. Incredibly proud of her Chinese heritage, she emblemized her Zodiac Sign – the Dragon – within her. Let us be ever so thankful to have known her.

Bessie is survived by her siblings: Fenton, Fillmore, Frank Jr., Bobbie, Bernice, (deceased are Frances and Bonnie), stepchildren: Marion Lowe, Celestina Lowe, Dr. Oariona Lowe, and Van Lowe, Jr., grandchildren: Marc, Dolly, Kevan, Derek, Thanos, Jenny, Maya, nephews and nieces: Mark, Christina, Allison, Loren, Stephanie, Justin, Wendy, Lisa, Linden, Debbie, Lee, Erin, Evan, Liana, Brandon, Lacy, Lori, Lani, Larissa and great-grandchildren: Megan and Kailoni.

The Lowe, Sue, and Louie families express their gratitude to the following for their care and support of Bessie Lowe through the years: the Hanford Adventist Hospital, Valley Christian Home, and her team of medical providers.