Donald Lowe is being remembered by family as a father who adored his children and the kind of man who wanted to help everyone.

“He was just a loving and kind person,” his son Taylor Lowe told the Spectator. “He would do anything for anybody.”

Lowe, who went by “Donnie” or “Don,” had four children and four grandchildren, and was a longtime Chapman’s ice cream truck driver.

He was shot and killed in his Hamilton townhouse over the weekend along with his girlfriend Cheryl Nicholl.

David Thomson, the 33-year-old man police named as the suspect in the death of 62-year-old Lowe and 32-year-old Nicholl, was found dead in a hotel room in Brantford late Sunday.

Police say Lowe and Nicholl were shot sometime between late Friday night and early Saturday morning. They were found inside their home in a CityHousing Hamilton complex late Saturday after a call to check on their well-being.

On Wednesday, Taylor described Lowe as the “best dad I could have ever asked for” who “would give anything for me.”

The two saw each other a few months ago when Taylor, who now lives in Canmore, flew to Hamilton to pick up a car his dad gave him to help him out while he’s in school. He spent time with his dad, Nicholl and other family before driving back.

The father and son were in contact every day and spoke for the last time on Halloween.

“Him and Cheryl were going to hand out candies to the kids,” he said. “They were getting ready for that.”

Lowe had also been talking with his son about school as Taylor is en route to becoming a truck driver, just like his dad. Taylor said he learned a lot from his dad and it will be hard not to have his wisdom going forward.

“That’s the toughest part, not being able to talk to him.”

For 24 years, Lowe had worked as a direct-to-store delivery driver with Chapman’s — a job he loved.

He was one of the company’s safest drivers and a “helluva guy,” said vice-president Ashley Chapman. “He was an excellent truck driver,” he said. “He did his job damn near flawlessly.”

Chapman called Lowe a “lovely man” to talk to who “did not deserve this is any way, shape or form.”

He said staff are in shock after hearing about Lowe’s death. Flags have been lowered to half-mast at their facility in Markdale.

“It’s just unbelievable that something like this would happen to one of our own,” he said.

In his obituary, Lowe is remembered as a generous, hardworking man who loved baseball, fishing and music. He also loved to read and watch movies, Taylor said.

Taylor said his dad sometimes “chose the most difficult and hard people to help, but he saw something great in them.” While he only met Nicholl a few times in the year they had been together, he saw she made his dad happy. Both Nicholl and Lowe had issues they were dealing with, but they were trying to help each other, he said.

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Condolence messages have been posted online for Lowe, as well as Nicholl and Thomson.

An online obituary for Nicholl says she was a loved mother and daughter, dear sister and aunt.

While Hamilton police investigate the double homicide, the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) is investigating Thomson’s death.

Staff Sgt. Dave Oleniuk of the homicide unit previously told the Spectator police found drugs at the townhouse, but it remains unclear what role they played in the shootings.

He did not specify details, but said detectives believe “a verbal dispute over a debt” may have occurred before the shooting, with Thomson as the aggressor.

A pickup truck with four slashed tires was towed from the scene. Some details about what happened may never be known. “The only three people who were in the home are dead,” he said. “Some questions will remain unanswered.”

CityHousing CEO Tom Hunter said the 64-unit property, which does not have surveillance cameras, has had “very few” safety and security issues over the last 10 years.

On Monday, staff were on-site to provide support and will continue to followup with tenants.

Asked about safety concerns raised by residents, Hunter said they will address “this terrible incident that happened” and “respond to the needs of the tenants at this point and then assess this moving forward.”

Taylor said he is flying home Thursday to be with his family so they can celebrate the good times they shared with Lowe. “It’s a very sad reminder ... you can’t take anything for granted,” he said.

Visitation for Lowe is at P.X. Dermody Funeral Home Nov. 9 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. followed by a funeral service in the chapel.

A memorial service for Nicholl will be held in the chapel at Jones Funeral Home Nov. 13 at 11 a.m.