Genavieve Rowell

Genavieve (Briggs) Rowell, of Marlin, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, June 12, 2024, at the age of 82. Genavieve was born on September 1, 1941, in Houston, Texas, to Roy Albert and Irma Richie Swinnea Briggs. She was raised in the Stranger community, near Kosse, Texas, and attended school in Marlin.

On March 16, 1957, she married James Arthur Rowell, and they shared 67 wonderful years together. During the early years of their marriage, James' employment with Shell Oil took them from Houston to Tyler, to Texarkana and Monahans, Texas. Once they saved up enough money, the couple moved back to James' hometown of Marlin where he started his cattle operation on a full-time basis. From their union, they had five daughters – Susan, Karen, Janie, Sara and Melissa. Gena stayed home to raise their kids while James worked his cattle. Later on, she worked at Sanitarium Drug Store and Threadgill's Jewelry in Marlin.

Gena was an excellent seamstress and sewed many an Easter Sunday dress for their children. She also canned pickles and made their family favorite gingersnaps. She was a great cook and taught her kids how to cook.

She and James loved taking their kids on summer vacations to places such as Florida and Tennessee, and often made trips to visit family in Mississippi. They also traveled to Australia and New Zealand. Later, when Gena's oldest daughter worked for Delta Airlines, Gena had the opportunity to visit Italy and instantly fell in love with the place. Through the years, she would make frequent trips to Italy with her daughters and friends, and traveled to neighboring countries as well, but Italy was always the place she loved and looked forward to going back to.

Gena and James also enjoyed going dancing at Geneva Hall in Elm Mott, where they made many friends and shared many happy times together. In the last few years, Gena rediscovered her love of Elvis and enjoyed listening to his music on Youtube.

James and Gena both shared a love for animals and often took in strays that crossed their path. Gena will be sorely missed by her beloved dogs – Abby, Ellie and Buster Brown.

She leaves behind to cherish her memory, her husband; her daughters, Susan Kraus (Jeff) of Georgetown, Karen Evans (Curtis) of Riesel, Janie Maxey (Mark) of Riesel, Sara Antis (Donald) of Marlin, and Melissa Rowell of Marlin; grandsons Derreck Maxey of Riesel, Curtis Evans, Jr, (Jodie) of Waco, and Matthew Antis (Brittany) of Mineral Wells; granddaughters Morgan Kaminski (Tyler) of Riesel and Natalie Antis of San Antonio; great grandson Oliver Antis of Mineral Wells; her dear brother, Billy Briggs (Gloria) of Marlin, and her dear sister-in-law, Ramona Watson of Marlin; and a host of nieces and nephews, as well as great nieces and nephews, and of course, her pets.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Gene Briggs and John Roy Briggs, and sister Betty Sue Kasner.

Visitation will be at Adams Funeral Home in Marlin on Monday, June 17, 2024, from 6:00-8:00 pm. Funeral Services will be on Tuesday, June 18, 2024, at 11:00 am, with graveside services following at Hillcrest Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Curtis Evans, Mark Maxey, Donald Antis, Derreck Maxey, Curt Evans, Jr. and Matthew Antis.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Parkinson's Foundation.

The family would like to thank Falls Community Hospital, PA Jeremy Reynolds and the ER staff, Dr. David Fedro and his nursing staff, Texas Quality Home Health Care, Ramona Watson, Dorothy McDade, Olivia (Bodie) Smith, Shantina Womack, the physical therapy department at both Falls Community Hospital and Heart of Texas physical therapy, and the staff at Accent Hospice care for their kind, compassionate care and treatment for our Mama during her illness. It means more to us than words can adequately express.