Lee Mowry, Jr

Lee Mowry, Jr. veteran radio and sports announcer, of the Turner Chapel Road, Rome, died on Sunday, January 13th, 2008 at the age of 86 at home.
Lee was pre-deceased by his wife, Edith, who died in July 2001. He is survived by three children, a son Lee Mowry III and wife Jo Anne of Roanoke, VA. and 2 daughters, Marsha Whatley and husband, David of Rome and Harriet Owens and Martin Ball of Rome. He is also survived by five grandchildren, Robin Holley of Canton, GA., J.J. Owens of Rome, Darren Mowry of Potomac Falls, VA., Chad Whatley of Woodstock, GA. and Amanda Ammons of Canton, GA. as well as seven great grandchildren. Also two nephews survive, Bill and Leland Greeley of South Carolina and a sister-in-law, Mary Baker of Rome.
Lee was born in Isabella, TN. near Copperhill, TN., on March 30th, 1921, the son of the late Leland B. and Margaret Mowry. He moved to Rome at an early age when his father went to work for the Celanese Corporation. He had an older brother, James Bedell Mowry and a younger sister, Leila Greeley, both whom pre-deceased him. As a teenager Lee was an accomplished swimmer and lifeguard and came close to making the US Olympic team. He later taught fellow Marines to swim under water while fires burned on the surface.
Lee served in the Marine Corps in World War II and fought in several battles in the Pacific including one of the bloodiest battles of the war, the invasion of Iwo Jima. When the war ended, he stayed in the reserves until 1947. Lee was an active member of the Marine Corps League in Rome until his passing.
After the war Lee came back to Rome and took a job as a junior reporter for the Floyd County Herald, reporting on local sports. He was asked to broadcast a Textile League baseball game in 1947 and thus began his storied radio/sports career. For over 40+ years he was the voice of sports in the Rome area Broadcasting everything from Little League, Pony League and Colt League baseball to high school football to college basketball and professional golf. Over the years he personally interviewed hundreds of sports figures including some of the greatest of all time such as Ted Williams, Hank Aaron, Stan Musial, Al Kaline, Red Grange and Dizzy Dean. He was a member and first broadcaster inducted into the Rome and Floyd Sports Hall of Fame, a communicant of St. Peter's Episcopal Church and a member of the Marine Corps League, Jake Puryear Detachment. He could also be heard in the mornings on radio for years hosting the Grab Bag show.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Marine Corps League, Jake Puryear Detachment #1020, P.O. Box 2065, Rome, GA. 30164-2065.
The family of Lee and Edith Mowry will receive friends at Fred Talley's Parkview Chapel Funeral Home on Friday evening, January 18th, 2008 from 6 until 8 o'clock. At other hours they will be at the residence.
Graveside services for Lee and Edith Mowry will be held at Sunset Hill Memorial Gardens in Rome on Saturday morning, January 19th, 2008 at 11 o'clock where his and his wife Edith's ashes will be buried together. The Reverend Roger Ard and the Reverend Dr. James. K. Yeary will officiate. The United States Marine Corps Honor Guard will conduct military graveside rites for Lee Mowry, Jr.
Members of the Marine Corps League, Jake Puryear Detachment #1020 will serve as honorary pallbearers.
Please join the family in honoring Lee Mowry, Jr. and his wife Edith by visiting www.talleysparkviewchapel.com and posting your tributes and memories.
Fred Talley and the staff of Parkview Chapel Funeral Home is serving the Mowry family.