Lucille Downes

The Lord called Lucille Downes home, Sunday, November 27, 2011, as she went into a gentle peaceful sleep with family by her side. Lucille Downes was preceded in death by her parents, James Bertram Smith and Mozelle James Smith of Lott and also her husband of 63 years, Bennie Downes, and by two infant daughters, Una Marie and Cora Joyce. She met Bennie when she was 9 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 as PaPa and Granny and loved by many.

She is survived by 4 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 survived by 17 Grandchildren, which included 2 sets of twins. The grandchildren that put the twinkle in her eyes are, Carolyn Rowe and husband Jery, 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.

She is also survived by 16 great Grandchildren, they are, Kristen and Rudy Garcia, Tristen Wilkins, Cory and Cristal Welch, Sean Erickson, Madeline, Hannah and Heidi Anderson, Tyler Walker. Her one great great grandchild is Braxton Garcia plus another set of twin great grandchildren still in the oven. Whenever we visited her she always asked “Hows the Family?” We answered with as much information and names as possible and it always made her smile.

Special caregivers were Tony Herrera, Judy Witherwax, Geneva Warwick, and Linda Dodson.

She was truly an asset as a farmers 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 chauffer and caregiver. She was the 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 lunch time 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 late became well known. Bennie was an elder at the Church for many years supported by a Godly loving wife. She was the best example of a mother and Granny anyone could have. She was our mentor, our hero, a true survivor and a true pioneer. She had strong beliefs, commitments and opinions. Her secret to a long life was she always ate right and had dessert at every meal. She knew what the experts are just now learning. She will be loved and remembered by many for all of our lifetimes.

She fought a 10 year courageous battle with Alzheimer’s, but often we found surprisingly great days. She thoroughly enjoyed her 95 ^th birthday party and Royal Manor’s Thanksgiving party.

You judge the success of a mother by her children and we judge it because we are proud of our siblings. They 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 in knowing where she is now with Jesus and our Daddy and Papa.

Memorials may be made to Alzheimers Association, 3429 Executive Center Drive, Suite 100, Austin, TX 78731

Services were held at 2:00 p.m. Wed., Nov. 30, 2011 in Cook-Gerngross-Green-Patterson Funeral Home in Rosebud. Ministers Alan Ritchie, Frank Downes, and Delaney Bargainer officiating. Burial followed in Powers Chapel Cemetery. Visitation was held from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. Tuesday at the funeral home.