Carolyn Rowe

Carolyn Gayle “Welch” Rowe, passed away on Friday, April 28, 2023.

Carolyn was born in Marlin on June 12, 1955, the daughter of Bobby and Louise Welch. She is survived by her mother, Louise; daughter Kristen Garcia and son-in-law Rudy Garcia; brothers Craig Welch (Denise) and Clark Welch (Tammy) of Dallas; three grandchildren Braxton Cole, Presley Jayde, and Fallon Celeste Garcia. Aunts, Darlene Taylor (Terry) and Dixie Horn (Glen), Uncle James Terry Downes (Ruth); Niece and nephew, Cory and Cristal (Sean) and great niece, River.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Jerry Randal Rowe, MD, an emergency room physician in Athens, Corpus, Waco and Paris, Texas; father, Bobby Welch; and grandparents Bennie and Lucille Downes of Rosebud, TX (she was their very first grandchild.)

She graduated from Marlin High School and received her Bachelor’s in Nursing (BSN) degree from Mary Hardin Baylor with honors, while working as a medical lab technician at Hillcrest Medical Center. After becoming a registered nurse, she worked many years at Ascension Providence Hospital and later became Director of Nursing for Quality Care Senior Living in Waco. She eventually moved to a beautiful home, with her beloved husband Jerry, on the bay in Corpus Christi where she was also Director of Nursing at a local nursing home. She also worked in Paris, TX as head plant nurse for Sara Lee Corporation.

Carolyn loved interior design & landscaping, always remodeling and redesigning each home beautifully as if in a magazine. She also had a keen eye for unique antiques; loved the Baylor Bears, season tickets to the football games was always a highlight of her year; and traveling to places like Paris, France, the ‘88 Olympics in Canada, and tropical cruises were some of her favorites. In recent years, Carolyn lived next to her daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren, whom she saw daily, and enjoyed so many special memories like Christmas this past December at Santa’s Wonderland in Bryan they will cherish forever.

Visitation will be held Friday, May 12 at Pecan Grove Funeral Home at 6 p.m. in Robinson, Tx. Graveside service at Oakwood Cemetery on Saturday, May 13 at 10 a.m. with Minister Charlie Thomason of New Road Church of Christ where Carolyn was also a member. The church is providing a family meal following the graveside service. Singers for the service will be daughters of Frank Downes, Brenda Pippen, Jennifer Downes Venegas and Debbie Nauert. Pallbearers will be Greg, Gaylen, and Gary Downes, Alan Wendland, Larry Joe and William Fischer. Honorary pallbearers Claude Downes Jr., James Terry Downes, Terry Taylor, Jaye K Welch, Laura Welch Smith, Chanda Rivers and Renae Walker.