Funeral services for Mrs. Geneva Rowe Downs Locke, age 82, of the Old Center Community, will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2012, at the Old Center Baptist Church with Bro. Gordon Rogers and Bro. Olen Rivers officiating under the direction of Jimerson-Lipsey Funeral Home. Interment will follow in Old Center Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday at the funeral home. Mrs. Locke passed away on Sunday morning, Oct. 28, 2012, in Carthage.

Geneva Louise Smith Rowe Downs Locke was born on Feb. 27, 1930, in Tyler, TX, to Weldon Wade and Lula Faye Hunt Smith. She graduated from Tenaha High School with the class of 1946. She earned a bachelor's degree in 1958 and a master's degree in 1964 from Stephen F. Austin State University. Mrs. Locke worked as a school teacher for over 24 years until her retirement. She moved to Old Center in 1962, from Carthage and was an active member of the Old Center Baptist Church for many years. Mrs. Locke was preceded in death by her parents; three husbands, June Rowe, Robert Downs, and R.R. Locke; and one grandchild, Gennefer June.

Mrs. Locke is survived by four children, Robert Rowe and wife Angie of Rainy Pass, AK, Randy Rowe of Old Center, Peggy Allison of Old Center, and Patty Twomey and husband Hank of Old Center; two sisters, Yvonne Ritter of Beaumont and Virgie Yarberry and husband Tommy of Carthage; five step-children; nine grandchildren, Ashley Rowe and wife Alex, Christi Dukes and husband R.T., Chelsea Oler and husband Blake, Shayne Thames and husband Blake, April Parker and husband Yogesh, Ben Brimhall and wife Gwen, John Allison and girlfriend C.J. Garsee, Amanda Johnson and husband Philip, and Jonathan Twomey and wife Chrissy; and 13 great-grandchildren. Numerous step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren also survive Mrs. Locke.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to Mrs. Locke's caregivers, especially Betty Leeson, and the staff and nurses of Heart's Way Hospice, especially Crystal Chapman, for the loving care shown to Mrs. Locke during her illness.

Serving as pallbearers are John Allison, Jonathan Twomey, Ashley Rowe, Philip Johnson, R.T. Dukes, Blake Oler, Blake Thames, and Ben Brimhall.

Serving as honorary pallbearers are Ray Foster, Robert Duncan, Ike Cummings, Wayne Wimberly, and Boyd Caskey.

If desired, memorials may be made to the Old Center Cemetery Assn., c/o Mrs. Shayne Thames, P.O. Box 167, Carthage, TX 75633.

A guestbook may be signed online at www.jimerson-lipsey.com.