Anna Ruth Rowell

She married Thomas Pleasant (which certainly fit him) Rowell on November 28, 1946. They were married for 58 years until his death on December 18, 2004. Together they had one daughter, Carol, on January 2, 1953.

Also preceding her in death were four brothers and two sisters.

Ann is survived by her daughter, Carol; one sister, Doris Halliburton; three grandchildren: Nick House, Natalie Barnes, and Ashley West; two great grandchildren: Shooter West and Drew Barnes; numerous nieces and nephews; and great friends and neighbors who loved her.

Ann worked for many years for John Deere Company but spent the majority of her career as a secretary and retired from Continental Insurance Company in 1988.

Ann was loved by all her family and so many friends and neighbors. She was most happy doing for others. She was the first to organize or respond to homebound or bereaved family and friends by providing food at times of hardship. She was a great cook and was ALWAYS in the kitchen. Although feeding a family of three most of her life, she loved to cook for the multitudes. At family reunions, she would bring whole meals enough to feed several families.

In earlier years, she loved volleyball and was always up for a game. We had family gatherings playing volleyball and eating homemade ice cream. She played softball in a church softball league. Ann and Tom loved to bowl and played in a church league for many years. She won several trophies bowling that she was proud of.

She was very close to her neighbors who they lived by for 44 years. After Tom’s death in 2004, these neighbors kept close eyes on Ann and remained very close to her.

They enjoyed meeting after church on Sunday mornings with a group of their friends at Wyatt’s Cafeteria or Raymond’s Barbecue. Tom and Ann ate every Wednesday night at El Fenix. They were creatures of habit and routine. They lived simply and happily. They had long, full lives together, and they are together again today.