Michael Ray Lowe passed away on Sunday, August 2, 2026, at the age of 55, after a brief and devastating battle with pancreatic cancer.

Michael was the kind of man who left everyone he met better for having met him.  He had a million-dollar smile, and he gave it away freely.  He was warm, funny, generous, endlessly capable and genuinely interested in the people around him.  Whether someone knew Michael for decades or had only just met him, he had a way of making people feel welcome.  He was truly one of a kind, and it seemed that everyone who met him loved him.

Born in Ohio on May 15, 1971, Michael was the youngest of eight children.  He spent much of his childhood in Apache Junction, Arizona, and carried a lifelong love for the desert and the Superstition Mountains.  He often spoke fondly of watching the sun rise over the mountains with his father when he was a boy--memories that stayed close to his heart throughout his life.

Michael was adored by his wife of nine years, Kimberley.  What began as a long-distance relationship quickly became something neither of them could imagine living without.  Trips back and forth eventually turned into a marriage and a life together, culminating in their move to their forever home in Hamilton, Missouri, where they traded the noise and chaos of the city for quiet country nights and a sky filled with stars.

Michael never missed an opportunity to tell Kim that he loved her.  He opened her car door, held her hand and showed her through countless small gestures every day how deeply she was loved.  He was not only her husband, but her best friend, her partner and the great love of her life.

Michael deeply loved his children, Caroline and Jed, and his granddaughters, Ryann and Parker.  His family also included Kim's children, Brady and Jasmine, and their baby son Sawyer, as well as Jenna, Amy and Cody.  Family and friends mattered dearly to Michael, and the people he loved all knew it.

Michael was predeceased by his father, Earnest, and a brother of the same name.  He will be missed by his family, mother Vonda Roy, sisters Vickie McInteer, Sandra Harrah, Vonda Lowe, and brothers Wendell Lowe and David Lowe.  He had numerous nieces and nephews and a very special relationship with his niece Jennifer.

For 37 years, Michael worked in the plumbing industry, where his intelligence, remarkable problem-solving ability and patience made him both a respected professional and a natural teacher.  A longtime member of Local 8 Plumbers and Gasfitters, he formed lifelong friendships with hundreds of people throughout his career.  Most recently, he served as Operations Manager at Lexington Plumbing in Kansas City.  Michael could build or fix just about anything, and if he didn't immediately know how to solve a problem, chances were good that he would figure it out.

Outside of work, Michael approached life with the same curiosity and dedication.  He was an avid reader and a disciplined advocate of fitness and nutrition.  His consistency in sharing that part of his life on social media brought him a large community of like-minded followers, many of whom became friends.  People were drawn not only to his knowledge and discipline, but to his authenticity, encouragement, and unmistakable personality.

Michael was also an incredible cook who loved nothing more than firing up the grill for family and friends.  He loved hockey and was a devoted New York Rangers fan, while also proudly cheering for the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals and attending many games over the years.

He loved looking at the stars.  In fact, being able to step outside at night and see them was one of the reasons he wanted a life away from the city.  There was something about quiet skies, mountains, sunrises and open spaces that always seemed to speak to him.

One of the most tender chapters of Michael's life came from his love for his little French Bulldog, Edgar.  After Edgar passed away in October, Michael turned his grief into something beautiful.  To honor the little dog he loved so much, he began writing a series of children's books inspired by him.

Michael lived long enough to see Edgar's Big Red Ball and Edgar's Big Adventure published and available through Amazon and Barnes & Noble.  Two additional books in the series remain, and Kimberley will see them through to publication so that Michael's stores---and a little pieces of both Michael and Edgar--will continue to find their way into the homes and hearts of families for years to come.

Michael packed an extraordinary amount of love into his 55 years.  He was a husband who still opened car doors and reached for his wife's hand.  A father and grandfather who loved his family deeply.  A loyal friend.  A patient teacher.  A reader, builder, fixer, cook, sports fan and stargazer.  A man who worked hard, laughed often and made friends everywhere he went.

Cancer may have taken Michael from this world far too soon, but it cannot erase the life he lived or the mark he left behind.

There are people whose absence leaves an unmistakable space in the world.

Michael Ray Lowe was one of those people.

He will be loved, missed, and remembered beyond measure.

His wishes were to be cremated and brought home.  A celebration of life will be held there.  Details to follow.

In place of flowers, please consider purchasing an Edgar story or donating to the family's GoFundMe.