Obituary of Jimmie McKown

Funeral services for Jimmie "Gem" McKown, 77, of McDonald will be held on Saturday, January 18, 2020 at 1:00 pm at New Beginnings Church with David Villar officiating. Burial will follow at Tatum Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Kirby-Smith-Rogers Funeral Home. Gem was born on November 7, 1942 in Urania, Louisiana to William Howard and Jessie Marie Wells and passed away on January 12, 2020 in Lubbock, Texas. She got the nickname of "Gem" when she received a letter that her grandfather had written to her that started out "to my dear little Gem" and it stuck with her. Gem lived in Louisiana until she was 16 and her family moved to Brownfield, TX where she graduated from High School. She worked in Lubbock for Bell Telephone after graduation and that is where she met Joe McKown at a Hoyle Nix dance. They were married in 1963 in Tatum, NM and lived in Lovington, Prairie View and then settled in 1974 in McDonald. She was a member of ESA Sorority for 50 years and retired from Lea County Assessors' office after many years of service there. Gem was a total family oriented lady that loved her family above all else and whatever the kids wanted her to do, she did it, everytime. She spoiled all kids and animals. If Joe Craig or the girls had a game or event, she was there supporting them. She attended First Baptist Church in Tatum for many years and in more recent time she attended New Beginnings Church with her children. Gem was a woman of great inner strength and was tested as a young married woman when her husband was hurt and she became the voice and caregiver of him and her young children. She was her three kids best friend and loved them and all their friends. She became their "rock"! She was a very loved lady…. She was preceded in death by: her husband: Joe; her parents: William and Jessie Wells and one brother: Murray Wells. Surviving her is one son: Joe Craig McKown of Lubbock and two daughters: Kallie and husband Ronny Windsor and Shanna and husband Shane Burt both of Lovington and one brother: Bill and wife Diane Wells of Leavenworth, WA. Visitation will be held on Friday, January 17, 2020 from3:00 pm until 7:00 pm at the funeral home.