Jane Hooker Dow

Jane Hooker Dow, age 92, of Ballinger, passed away early Sunday morning, April 6, 2014 in a local nursing home.

She was born on January 9, 1922 in Lamar MO to Ira Daniel and Maggie Flora (Willis) Hooker. When she was 2 yrs. Old, she and her family moved to a peanut farm in Eastland County, TX, where she grew up with her 3 brothers and 2 sisters, being the 5 ^th of the six children.

After graduating from Cisco High School, Jane went to work for Western Union. As district manager, she traveled for the company. It was on one of these trips that she met her future husband, Orville Oscar Dow. They were married in Austin, TX on March 26, 1949. She became an Air Force wife and traveled to many places with her husband. After his retirement in 1970, they moved to Ballinger. He preceded her in death on December 14, 1999. She was also preceded by parents and her brothers and sisters.

“Aunt Jane” as she was known to her family, loved her plants, flowers, and garden. She could grow anything.

Jane is survived by her niece and caregiver, Bettye Hudgens and husband, Harold  of Ballinger; great niece and nephews she called her “grandchildren”, Rodney Irby and wife, Cory of Casa Grande, AZ, Terri Irby of San Angelo and Mark Irby and wife, Jeane of Rowena; her “angels” as she called them, great great nephews, Jarred Irby, Grey, Selby, Geoff Selby, and Chris Irby. Many other nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews also survive.

Graveside services for “Aunt Jane” will be held at 10:00 am Wednesday April 9, 2014 at the Garden of Memories Cemetery in Ballinger.