Eileen Low

Ruth Eileen Low

July 1, 1923 ~ March 1, 2021

Ruth Eileen Low died on March 1, 2021 at the Desert View nursing home in Buhl, Idaho.  She was born July 1, 1923 in a farmhouse west of Buhl, the second child of William Henry Lowe and Elva Graham Lowe. When Eileen was 10 years old, her mother married Kenneth Shark and over the next several years Eileen became big sister to Don, Janet, Keith, Larry and Alan Shark.

Eileen graduated from Buhl High School in 1941.  She was proud that she made the basketball team as a freshman, but reoccurring bouts of appendicitis prevented her from continuing on the team the following years.  After graduation she attended Henager Business College in Salt Lake City for a year.

In the summer of 1942 Eileen married Chester “Chet” Low, a young man from Castleford, Idaho.  They lived in Buhl for several years while both she and Chet worked a variety of jobs.  One of her favorite jobs was working in a downtown grocery store where she ran a donut making machine and sold the donuts.  That made her a very popular person with those who liked to pick up a donut or two on the way to work.

In 1947 Chet and Eileen moved to Hagerman and lived there for nearly 30 years before moving back to Buhl.  There they raised their two children, Bill and Karen.  Always supportive of her children, she seldom missed any sport or other event in which they participated.  She worked for several years clerking and stocking in Owsley’s Grocery store, then in the lunchroom for the Hagerman Schools. On election days she worked in the polls.

While in Hagerman she joined what she called Grandpa’s Church (the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) and participated in the Female Relief Society and the ward choir.  In the 1950’s the Hagerman Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints building underwent a significant expansion and she helped raise funds and did much of the painting, including painting the steeple.

Eileen was an energetic quilter and, after her return to Buhl, worked on a committee to make and send small quilts to newborns in developing countries.  She made numerous quilts including one or more for each of her 8 grandchildren. Eileen also enjoyed bowling and participated on a team that won trophies at numerous contests in the intermountain region.

She was always an independent person and took pride in being able to do for herself.  After Chet died, she continued to live on her own for many years.  Finally, limited sight and mobility forced her to seek assisted living at the age of 92.  She lived out her last few years in the Evergreen and Desert View facilities in Buhl.

Eileen was preceded in death by her husband of 52 years, Chet Low; her mother, Elva Shark; stepfather, Ken Shark; and two brothers, Francis Lowe and Don Shark.  She is survived by a sister, Janet (Stan) Smutny of Buhl, Idaho; three brothers, Keith (Linda) Shark of Buhl, Idaho; Larry (Janet) Shark of Buhl. Idaho; and Alan (Nancy) Shark of Boise, Idaho; son, William (Mari) Low of Mt. Pleasant, Michigan; and daughter, Karen (Danny) Pacleb of Las Vegas, Nevada; 8 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren.

A funeral service will be held at 1 pm, Saturday, March 13, 2021 at Farmer Funeral Chapel, 130 9th Ave North, Buhl, with a viewing one hour prior to the service.

Memories and condolences may be shared with the family on Eileen’s memorial webpage at www.farmerfunealchapel.com.