Jewell Connell, 95, of Dimmitt passed away Tuesday, March 12, 2013 in Dimmitt. Funeral services will be Saturday, March 16, 2013 at the First Baptist Church of Dimmitt at 2:00 PM with Richard Connell officiating, burial to follow at Castro Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Family visitation will be Friday evening from 6:00-8:00 PM at the funeral home. Arrangements are being handled by Colonial Funeral Home of Dimmitt. Jewell was born January 4, 1918 in Cooper, Texas to Earnest and Erma DeVaney, the oldest of their four children. Her family moved to Jones County at the age of four. She attended school in the Central or Pulltight community near Anson, Texas. Jewell and Cleo were married on September 29, 1934. They were farmers in Jones County until moving to Dimmitt in 1958. Jewell and Cleo struggled through the depression years and survived by depending upon their faith and by keeping a strong work ethic in place. In the early years Jewell made her soap in a big black wash pot on an open fire, the same pot was used to wash the clothes each week. She worked in the fields with Cleo; chopping weeds in cotton and grain fields, and then helping gather the grain and pulling the cotton. She would take her two babies' to the fields with her and pull them on her cotton sack. Jewell continued her strenuous and joyful task of keeping the home after working in the fields. There were always three big meals on the table each day. She never knew when Cleo would ask a friend to come have dinner with them. "Mother's Day Out" was unheard of for Jewell. Going out to eat meant preparing a box full of lunch for a dinner on the ground with folks at the church, or a family reunion. Later years there were trips on Monday to the washateria where the wringer type machine was used. Then she would hang all the clothes on a line to dry. She stood on her feet from dawn to dusk ironing dozens of pieces of clothing. The treadle sewing machine must have had hundreds of miles on it from making and mending clothes for the family. Jewell worked in a sewing factory when there was no money from the farm. She also worked at the Castro County Library until she was 89 years old. She loved having flowers in her yard. She would embroidery to pass the time after Cleo had passed away. We all have plenty of pillow cases, dressy scarves and kitchen towels. The granddaughters all have a beautiful embroidered quilt; it is to pretty to use every day. The grandchildren all have quilts made by their MeMaw. Shopping was the thing she loved the most, a new blouse or pants. She could always find a blouse for a dollar or two. She would dress early each morning with make up on and jewelry to match her outfit. It would thrill her so for people to tell her she looked pretty. She is survived by 2 daughters Bernice Dutton of Lubbock and Geneva Pearce of Odessa and 1 son Richard Connell and wife Johnna of Grand Junction, CO., One brother Johnny DeVaney of Anson; 7 grandchildren Gary Pearce, Ricky Dutton, Mitzi Smith, Corbin Connell, Jarin Connell, Taryn Connell-Warren and Jaydin Connell; 14 great grandchildren Jason Thomas, Charlie Pearce, Travis Pearce, Chloe Leathers, Kathlyn Dutton, Krista Luckie, Chisum Smith, Stormi Dutton, Kody Dutton, Cora Connell, Chyla Connell, Blake Connell, Han Connell and Karis Connell She is preceded in death by her husband Cleo Connell, her parents, Ernest and Erma DeVaney, two son-in-laws Charlie Pearce and Bryan Dutton, a granddaughter Sherry Williams, 1 great grandchild Marshall Greg Leathers and 1 Grandson-in-law Greg Smith, 1 sister Helen Thomas and 1 brother Adrian DeVaney. You may go online and sign the guestbook at www.colonialfuneralhome.org