Lowell Gene Harness, 89, of Mexico, formerly of Middletown, passed away at 10:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 27, 2016 at SSM Health – St. Mary's Hospital Audrain in Mexico, Missouri.

Mr. Harness was a well-known livestock and grain farmer in the Middletown area. He was born July 10, 1926, on a farm northwest of Olney, Missouri, a son of Harry and Myrta (Ellis) Harness. At about 9 months of age the family moved to a farm adjoining the city limits of Bowling Green, Missouri.

He was a 1944 graduate of Bowling Green High School. Lowell was an active member of the Bowling Green Schools. In high school, he played in the band, was an all-star basketball player and excelled in track. Lowell was also an honors student and elected class president in his freshman, junior and senior years. Upon graduation, the president of a well-known organization (The Sons of the American Revolution) traveled to Bowling Green to present Lowell with a medal and an award. He had been selected as the State of Missouri's most outstanding male high school graduate for the year 1944.

On August 8, 1947, in Bowling Green, Missouri, he married M. Maurine Ogden. They were married over 68 years and the proud parents of four children.

Lowell and Maurine have lived in Mexico the last 7 years. Prior to that, they lived on their farm in rural Middletown for over 60 years.

He was a member of the Bowling Green Methodist Church, where he was a former superintendent for over 9 years. Lowell also attended West Prairie Community Church for several years.

Lowell was a farmer all of his life. He farmed row crops and raised hogs and sheep. At one time, he had over 500 breeding ewes. Lowell was an extremely hard worker and being on the farm working and taking care of things was what he liked to do. Before the age of 10, Lowell used the walking plow with a team of horses.

Lowell is survived by his wife, Maurine Harness, of the home in Mexico; children and their spouses, Harry Taylor and Connie Harness, of Farmington, Donald Gene and Ann Harness, of Mexico, Kent Ogden and Susan Harness, of Mexico and Sherie Beth and Jerry Magner, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; seven grandchildren, Christopher Harness, Mary Caroline Harness and Beckett Harness, of Farmington, Jennifer Elizabeth Harness, of Mexico, Katie Maureen Harness-Hemmer and husband, Michael, of Hamburg, Germany, Andrew Lowell Magner, of Council Bluffs, Iowa and Courtney Beth Magner, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; in addition to nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Harry and Myrta Harness and brothers, Howard Harness and George Harness.

Funeral services were at 10:30 a.m., Monday, May 2, 2016 at the Myers Funeral Home in Middletown. Rev. Randall Cone officiated. Special music was provided by Karen Ankrom and Pam Exendine.

Burial was in Antioch Cemetery in Cyrene, Missouri. Serving as pallbearers were Lyndell Ankrom, Don Bote, Alan Dempsey, Terry Pritchett, Paul Thomas and Charlie Wohlbold.

Visitation was held from 1:00-3:00 p.m., Sunday, May 1, 2016 at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions were suggested to Antioch Cemetery c/o Myers Funeral Home, 203 East Bates Street, Wellsville, MO 63384.

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