Matthew B. Lamer, Jr. and Virginia L. Lamer (in photo, above) were loving parents who instilled the love of reading in their children and believed in giving back to their community. There may be no better way for a daughter to honor her parents than through a donation to a meaningful cause, and Lynnette Lowrimore has done just that. Though her parents passed away in 2010 and 2012, Lynnette continues to remember their wonderful spirits and is thrilled to have found a perfect way to remember their birthdays through a gift of books.

Lynnette, a lifetime member of Friends of the Library Southport and Oak Island (FOLSOI) and Harper Library patron and volunteer, honors their memory every year in May for their birthdays. Her generous donation this year to FOLSOI was used to acquire eight popular large print selections enhancing the collections at Harper and Barbee Libraries:

• “Grant” by Ron Chernow
• “Battles that Changed History” by DK Smithsonian Institution
• “All the Colors of the Night” by Jayne Ann Krentz
• “Tom Clancy Code of Honor” by Marc Cameron
• “The Pioneers” by David McCullough
• “Hymn of the Republic” by S.G. Gwyne
• “The Four Winds” by Kristin Hannah
• “The Return” by Nicholas Sparks

Matt and Jini Lamer were married for 54 years. They were both avid readers. He enjoyed historical fiction, military history and was a huge civil war buff. She enjoyed contemporary fiction, sipping wine and shopping (sometimes two out of these three at the same time). 

Mr. Lamer was also a highly decorated veteran of three wars having served in World War II, Korea and Vietnam. He and his family were stationed at various military installations throughout the world during his 30-year military career. After retiring, he began a “career” of volunteering.

Lynnette shares, “My dad served on the Blue Ridge Summit Library Board for many years so this donation feels like a full circle moment.” Mr. Lamer also volunteered as a mentor in the school system and was a “grandfather in residence” for first and second grade students at the local elementary school.  He loved to travel and was a walking encyclopedia on what to see and do when overseas for his circle of friends.  His goal was to visit 100 countries – a goal he nearly reached before his death.

Mrs. Lamer, a loving mother, grandmother and military spouse, was a certified oncology nurse, always advocating for her oncology patients. She also served on the Oncology Council in Pennsylvania and was active in hospice.  She loved reading travel magazines to get ideas for future destinations to visit.  She could tell you all the restaurants to visit in many countries – having sampled their cuisine firsthand!

In addition to this generous donation of books, Lynnette is also using credit card points to purchase Amazon gift cards toward new books to upgrade the travel sections at both branches. She has already donated eight books and looks forward to many more purchases in the coming months.

Stop by the libraries to check out the wonderful new additions to the collection. And be sure to thank Lynnette when you see her volunteering at Harper.