Velma Jo Gowens, 88, passed away Friday, Jan. 20, 2017 in Graham. Funeral services will be held Monday, Jan. 23, at 11 a.m. in Salem Crestview United Methodist Church. Burial will follow in Pioneer Cemetery under the direction of Morrison Funeral Home. Velma was born Jan. 16, 1929 in Young County, to the late John Willis and Maudie Velma (Shahan) Ford. She married Truman Gowens in 1946 and she was a licensed vocational nurse at Graham Medical Associates. Survivors include her husband, Truman Gowens of Graham; daughter, JoAnn Oler and husband, Ralph of Baytown; son, Kenneth Gowens and wife, Pam of Irving; daughter-in-law, Helen Robinson and husband, Brent; sisters, Anita Wizov and husband, Sandy of New Jersey and Barbara Eason and husband, Don of Graham; six grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her son, Charles Gowens; daughter, Patricia Ward; granddaughter, Amy Gowens; brothers, Johnny, Robert, Jerry, Joe and Hugh Ford; and sisters, Lorna Mae Hunter and Leta Ford Psencik.