Waco Tribune-Herald
Waco, Texas
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Page 2-B
Lucille Downes
May 8, 1916 - November 27, 2011
The Lord called Lucille Downes home Sunday, Nov. 27, 2011, as she went into a gentle peaceful sleep with family by her side. Services will be 2 p.m. Wednesday at Cook-Gerngross-Green-Patterson Funeral Home in Rosebud. Ministers Alan Ritchie, Frank Downs, and Delaney Bargainer, will officiate. Burial will follow in Powers Chapel Cemetery. Visitation will be 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
Lucille met her husband, Bennie Downes, when she was nine years old and claimed him then to be her future husband. She always had excellent taste and could not have chosen a better person. They became known at PaPa and Granny and were loved by many.
Lucille was truly an asset as a farmer's wife. She and Bennie lived on the same farm between Rosebud and Travis for 42 years before moving to Robinson in 1990 to be next door neighbors to their daughter, Darlene, who was their chauffeur and caregiver. Lucille was a financial whiz as a business partner to her Bennie. She was great in math and loved working with figures. The cotton crops were surveyed by a team of newspaper reporters and other area farmers. The head of the Farmers and Home Administration learned to drop in often at lunchtime knowing he would always be asked to stay for a great home-cooked meal.
When the Rosebud Church of Christ had gospel meetings or a new preacher came to town, Lucille and Bennie always took them home with them. She's fed and nourished many a preacher, many just new and fresh out of college who later became well-known. Bennie was an elder at the Church for many years, supported by a Godly loving wife. Lucille was the best example of a mother and Granny anyone could have. She was a mentor, a hero, a true survivor and a true pioneer. She had strong beliefs, commitments and opinions. Her secret to a long life was that she always ate right, and had dessert at every meal. Lucille knew what the experts are just now learning. She will be loved and remembered by many for all of our lifetimes.
Lucille fought a 10 year courageous battle with Alzheimer's, but often had surprisingly good days. She thoroughly enjoyed her 95th birthday party and Royal Manor's Thanksgiving party. She was currently a member of New Road Church of Christ.
Lucille was preceded in death by her parents, James Bertram Smith and Mozelle James Smith of Lott; her husband of 63 years, Bennie Downes; and two infant daughters, Una Marie and Cora Joyce.
She is survived by four children, Louise Welch and husband, Bobby, of Marlin, James Terry Downes and wife, Ruth, of Waco, Dixie Horn and husband, Glen, of Thibedeaux, La., and Darlene Taylor and husband, Terry, of Robinson. She is also survived by 17 grandchildren, which includes two sets of twins. The grandchildren who put the twinkle in her eyes are Carolyn Rowe and husband, Jerry, Craig and Denise Welch, Clark and Tammy Welch, Kim Wilkins and husband, Frank, Terese Henry and husband, David, Benny and Barry Horn, Rhonda Anderson and husband, Brett, Renae Walker and husband, Kevin, Nicole Bourdreaux and husband, Scot, Alan Wendland and wife, Kristie, Chanda Rivers, Krisha Weingartner and husband, Ty, Jody Taylor and wife, Kim, Chad Taylor and wife, Rhonda, Heath Taylor and wife, Lori, and Holly Taylor; as well as 16 great-grandchildren, Kristen and Rudy Garcia, Tristen Wilkins, Cory and Cristal Welch, Sean Erickson, Madeline, Hannah and Heidi Anderson, Tyler Nors, Caden and Colby Rivers, Heather and Riggen Taylor, and Samantha, Kevin Jr., and Haleigh Walker; one great-great-grandchild, Braxton Garcia; plus another set of twin great-grandchildren still in the oven. Whenever visited by her family, she always asked, "How's the family?" and was answered with as much information and names as possible and it always made her smile.
One judges the success of a mother by her children, and we judge it because we are proud of our siblings. Our parents gave us roots and they gave us wings. Our memories are of what she taught us in tough ways. We're strong because of her. We are who we are because of them both. She has a legacy that will long be remembered and yes, word for word, because of the stories she told us over and over. Our greatest joy and comfort is knowing where she is now with Jesus and our Daddy and PaPa.
Special caregivers were Tiny Herrera, Judy Witherwax, Geneva Warwick, and Linda Dodson.
Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association , 3429, Executive Center Drive, Suite 100, Austin, TX 78731.
Cook-Gerngross-Green-Patterson
Waco, Texas
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Page 2-B
Lucille Downes
May 8, 1916 - November 27, 2011
The Lord called Lucille Downes home Sunday, Nov. 27, 2011, as she went into a gentle peaceful sleep with family by her side. Services will be 2 p.m. Wednesday at Cook-Gerngross-Green-Patterson Funeral Home in Rosebud. Ministers Alan Ritchie, Frank Downs, and Delaney Bargainer, will officiate. Burial will follow in Powers Chapel Cemetery. Visitation will be 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
Lucille met her husband, Bennie Downes, when she was nine years old and claimed him then to be her future husband. She always had excellent taste and could not have chosen a better person. They became known at PaPa and Granny and were loved by many.
Lucille was truly an asset as a farmer's wife. She and Bennie lived on the same farm between Rosebud and Travis for 42 years before moving to Robinson in 1990 to be next door neighbors to their daughter, Darlene, who was their chauffeur and caregiver. Lucille was a financial whiz as a business partner to her Bennie. She was great in math and loved working with figures. The cotton crops were surveyed by a team of newspaper reporters and other area farmers. The head of the Farmers and Home Administration learned to drop in often at lunchtime knowing he would always be asked to stay for a great home-cooked meal.
When the Rosebud Church of Christ had gospel meetings or a new preacher came to town, Lucille and Bennie always took them home with them. She's fed and nourished many a preacher, many just new and fresh out of college who later became well-known. Bennie was an elder at the Church for many years, supported by a Godly loving wife. Lucille was the best example of a mother and Granny anyone could have. She was a mentor, a hero, a true survivor and a true pioneer. She had strong beliefs, commitments and opinions. Her secret to a long life was that she always ate right, and had dessert at every meal. Lucille knew what the experts are just now learning. She will be loved and remembered by many for all of our lifetimes.
Lucille fought a 10 year courageous battle with Alzheimer's, but often had surprisingly good days. She thoroughly enjoyed her 95th birthday party and Royal Manor's Thanksgiving party. She was currently a member of New Road Church of Christ.
Lucille was preceded in death by her parents, James Bertram Smith and Mozelle James Smith of Lott; her husband of 63 years, Bennie Downes; and two infant daughters, Una Marie and Cora Joyce.
She is survived by four children, Louise Welch and husband, Bobby, of Marlin, James Terry Downes and wife, Ruth, of Waco, Dixie Horn and husband, Glen, of Thibedeaux, La., and Darlene Taylor and husband, Terry, of Robinson. She is also survived by 17 grandchildren, which includes two sets of twins. The grandchildren who put the twinkle in her eyes are Carolyn Rowe and husband, Jerry, Craig and Denise Welch, Clark and Tammy Welch, Kim Wilkins and husband, Frank, Terese Henry and husband, David, Benny and Barry Horn, Rhonda Anderson and husband, Brett, Renae Walker and husband, Kevin, Nicole Bourdreaux and husband, Scot, Alan Wendland and wife, Kristie, Chanda Rivers, Krisha Weingartner and husband, Ty, Jody Taylor and wife, Kim, Chad Taylor and wife, Rhonda, Heath Taylor and wife, Lori, and Holly Taylor; as well as 16 great-grandchildren, Kristen and Rudy Garcia, Tristen Wilkins, Cory and Cristal Welch, Sean Erickson, Madeline, Hannah and Heidi Anderson, Tyler Nors, Caden and Colby Rivers, Heather and Riggen Taylor, and Samantha, Kevin Jr., and Haleigh Walker; one great-great-grandchild, Braxton Garcia; plus another set of twin great-grandchildren still in the oven. Whenever visited by her family, she always asked, "How's the family?" and was answered with as much information and names as possible and it always made her smile.
One judges the success of a mother by her children, and we judge it because we are proud of our siblings. Our parents gave us roots and they gave us wings. Our memories are of what she taught us in tough ways. We're strong because of her. We are who we are because of them both. She has a legacy that will long be remembered and yes, word for word, because of the stories she told us over and over. Our greatest joy and comfort is knowing where she is now with Jesus and our Daddy and PaPa.
Special caregivers were Tiny Herrera, Judy Witherwax, Geneva Warwick, and Linda Dodson.
Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association , 3429, Executive Center Drive, Suite 100, Austin, TX 78731.
Cook-Gerngross-Green-Patterson