The communities of Bratt, Fla. and Atmore are mourning the loss of a family member, friend and co-worker.

Bruce E. Lowery, 47, of Bratt died Saturday morning at a Pensacola, Fla. hospital with his family at his side. Monday evening, hundreds of those close to Lowery lined up more than an hour prior to visitation outside Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home to pay their final respects to the man they loved. Nearly an hour after the scheduled visitation conclusion, the last of family and friends could still be seen making their way through the front doors of the funeral home.

Lowery, who served as a code enforcement officer for the City of Atmore, was a 1987 graduate of Auburn University and a 1981 graduate of Ernest Ward High School where he was a member of the 1979 state championship football team.

A small crew will operate City Hall this morning as Lowery’s co-workers attend funeral services, which are scheduled for 11 a.m. today, Tuesday, Oct. 5 at First United Methodist Church. His body will lie in state one hour prior to the service. Interment will follow in Godwin Cemetery.

One of Lowery’s favorite restaurant’s, Alabama Wing House, where his son, Brad, worked prior to following in his father’s footsteps when he entered college this fall at Auburn University, will be closed during the lunch hour today so its employees can attend services.

“Bruce was a part of the Wing House family,” owner Ronnie Cloud said Monday. “If it was not for him, it would have been tough getting the restaurant off the ground. He worked with us day-in and day-out helping us prepare for our grand opening last year. Closing down for a few hours is the least we can do to pay our respects to such a great customer and friend. He will be greatly missed.”

The Wing House will reopen at 3 p.m. today.

For more on this story, see Wednesday’s Atmore Advance.

For complete obituary, click here.