Jo Rowell

MEMORIAL SERVICE: 11:00 A.M. Friday, November 30, 2012, at First United Methodist Church in Blanket, Texas. Jo Ann Rowell, 74, died Sunday, November 25, 2012, in Abilene, Texas. She was born on January 29, 1938, to James “Jimmy” Monroe Ayers and Bivian (Hawkins) Ayers in Lubbock, Texas. Jo Ann graduated from North Texas State University in Denton, Texas, in 1960 with a librarian degree. After graduation she moved back to Lubbock where she worked for Texas Tech University in the Law Library. Several years later she moved to Austin and worked for the City of Austin in the main library and retired from that position twenty-five years later. Jo Ann is survived by one son, Ben Rowell and wife Kelly of De Leon, two granddaughters, Madison Wilkerson of De Leon and Kaitlyn Wilkerson of McKinney; two great-grandchildren, Marleigh Wilkerson and Kasen Lopez, both of De Leon; one sister, Jimmie Forence and husband Jack of Blanket; nephews, Tucker Dale Rudder “Skeeter” and wife Glenda of Lubbock, Jet Florence and wife Regina of Blanket, and Joel Florence and wife Michelle of Mullin; nieces, Renee Ford and husband Tommy of Lubbock, and Julia Evans and husband Donnie of Early. Jo Ann also had eight great-nieces, Cortney Deterding of Oklahoma, Cheyenne Florence of Oklahoma, Emily Magan and Page Florence of Mullin, Bay Lee Evans of Early, Hayley York of San Antonio, and Heather Monkres of Lubbock; five great-nephews, Levi Rudder of Lubbock, Blake Evans of Early, Justin Florence of Blanket, Toby Florence of Blanket, and Baylor Evans of Early; and one sister-in-law, Hazel Rudder of Lubbock. She was preceded in death by her parents and one sister, Yvonne Ayers, one brother, Tucker rudder, and her grandmother, Leona Franklin Hawkins.