Age 89, passed away peacefully on March 26, 2017 at UT Southwest Medical Center in Dallas, after a fall and a brief illness.

Born December 13, 1927 in Dallas,Texas. Her parents, O.J. Bradley and Ottie Mae Oakes Bradley, ran a grocery store, and her mother was always eager to feed people, a tradition Mickey continued throughout her life. She grew up in Oak Cliff and graduated from Sunset High School in Dallas. On March 10, 1948, Mickey married Jim Lowry, who would go on to serve the Dallas Fire Department for 30 years and achieve the rank of Deputy Chief. Their son Eddie was born in 1952 and their daughter Susan in 1954. As a young mother, she was active in her church First Baptist Oak Cliff, visiting the sick and taking Vacation Bible School to less fortunate kids. She was active in the PTA, and in the Fire Department’s Ladies Auxiliary, among other things supporting the firefighters in repairing and delivering toys to families in need at Christmas. Service was always a huge part of her life.

After raising two kids to school age, Mickey returned to school herself to earn a B.S. at North Texas State University and a M.L.A. at SMU. She began teaching 4th grade in 1963, but quickly shifted gears when she and Jim learned they were to have their third child. Tommy was born in 1964. She returned soon to teaching grades 4-6, and particularly enjoyed American History. Though she spent only 17 years in the Dallas Independent School District, she never stopped teaching and learning. Education was very important to her, and she assisted all of her children and many of her grandchildren in achieving their degrees.

After 37 years of marriage her husband Jim passed in 1984, but Mickey was blessed with a second partner in life Harold Greer. He was a construction contractor, who had served in the Maritime Service, Merchant Marines, and US Navy. Harold was there to help comfort her after the death of her dear son Eddie late in 1985. Mickey and Harold married on June 3, 1988 at Midway Hills Christian Church and have remained together for over 30 years.

Anyone who ever met Mickey would agree that she was overflowing with energy, eager to take on a cause for social justice, a new ministry at church, or a theatrical role in a play, or to welcome to her home and feed any and all of God’s children. During the 1970’s she and Jim in essence adopted two Vietnamese sisters and saw them through their years of acclimation and even served as their “parents” for their weddings. Holiday dinners at her home often included neighbors, acquaintances, or near-strangers who needed a family right then.

It would be impossible to remember Mickey and not discuss her passion for travel. Her parents had developed that passion when they traveled across the country with her as a child. She wanted her family to experience the wonders of this country. Always in a travel trailer or RV, trips included National Parks, historical sites, and a few World’s Fairs. She loved Big Bend and visited more than 30 times, but her favorite had to be southern Utah, particularly Arches NP.

Mickey was a self-admitted “ham” and loved that her kids took an interest in theater, film, and music. Having acted in plays in school, she returned to the theater in her 80’s, acting in several plays produced at Central Christian by Ed DeLatte, retired of the Dallas Repertory Company.

In retirement, Mickey never stopped moving. She and Harold served Meals on Wheels (often to folks much younger) for 32 years, and she was a frequent worker at Austin Street Shelter. Only last year, she served as president of her MLA Book Club at Central Christian Church. Whether writing a letter to the editor, calling her councilperson, or unashamedly championing just-but-unpopular causes, she used the energy and fire that God gave her to make the world a better place.

In her 89 years Mickey has grown and developed her servanthood of God through memberships with Tyler Street Methodist, Grace Temple Baptist, First Baptist Oak Cliff, Midway Hills Christian, Central Christian, and Walnut Hill United Methodist.

Mickey Greer is preceded in death by her first husband J.H. Lowry, by her beloved son Edward Brian Lowry, and by many friends and family, most notably her dear cousin and best friend Gene Dungan. She is survived by her husband Harold Greer, by her daughter Susan Drake and her husband Dennis, by her son Thomas Lowry and his wife Marie, by her stepson David and his wife Joann, by her grandchildren Lisa Drake Horsley, Eric Drake, Terry James Lowry, Jillian Lowry Rittman, Kaitlyn Lowry Gray, Alex Lowry, Jason Lowry, Haley Lowry, Zachary Lowry, and John Greer and his wife Haily, and by numerous step-grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and cousins, and by many friends.

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