1928
Robert
2015
Robert J. Owens
January 10, 1928 — December 4, 2015
Robert J “Bob” Owens, Sr., a longtime Shawnee resident, passed from this life on Friday, December 4, 2015 in Norman, Oklahoma at the age of 87. Bob was born in Shawnee, Oklahoma on January 10, 1928 to James Newton Owens and Julia Spencer Owens. The youngest of five children, Bob grew up in Shawnee. He attended Oklahoma Baptist University for several years where he played varsity basketball for the OBU Bison. Following his time at OBU, Bob entered the US Army and served overseas in Japan for approximately two years. Following his honorable discharge from military service, Bob later attended mortuary school in St. Louis, Missouri where he graduated with honors. While attending Oklahoma Baptist University, Bob met the love of his life, and he married E. Jean Hutto in Shawnee on February 24, 1950. They remained happily married for over 48 years until Jean’s death in 1998.
Bob joined the staff of Gaskill Funeral Home in Shawnee as a funeral director/embalmer after his graduation from mortuary school. In 2001, Bob’s name was added to the funeral home and it began operating as Gaskill-Owens Funeral Chapel, a distinction that made him very proud. Bob remained at the funeral home as the General Manager until he retired in 2001 after 54 years of continuous service to Shawnee area families.
Bob was a member of the Shawnee Kiwanis Club and served the club as it’s President in 1999. In 2000, Bob was selected as “Funeral Director of The Year” by the Oklahoma Funeral Directors Association, an organization he supported throughout his working career. Bob was a longtime member of the First Baptist Church of Shawnee and served on several church committees and as a longtime deacon there. He was also a proud member of the Masonic Lodge of Shawnee and was a 32nd degree mason.
Several years after Jean’s passing in 1998, Bob moved from Shawnee to Okmulgee to live with his son. He was instrumental in helping to establish Integrity Funeral Service of Henryetta, which opened in 2009. He remained a valued contributor and mentor for all the directors there. He later returned to Norman in 2014 to be near his daughter.
Bob is preceded in death by his mother and father; by his wife, Jean Owens; by two brothers, James Newton Owens, Jr. and John Joseph “Red Top” Owens; and by two sisters, Julia Aubrey and Jane Zumwalt; as well as several brothers-in-law.
He is survived by his daughter, Mary Jane Gorton and husband Steve of Norman; a son, Robert J. Owens, Jr. and wife Detria of Okmulgee; by four very special grandsons, James Gorton of Oklahoma City, John Gorton and wife Becky of Oklahoma City; by Jud Owens and wife Katy of Norman, and Jared Owens and wife Emily of Texas; 2 great grandchildren, Jaxon Owens and Makenzie Owens, both of Norman; by numerous nieces and nephews which he adored, and by other extended family and many good friends.
Viewing for Bob will be held on Monday, December 7, 2015 from noon to 8:00pm at Integrity Funeral Service in Henryetta.
A graveside service for Bob will be held on Tuesday, December 8, 2015 at 2:00pm at Trinity Chapel in Resthaven Memorial Park of Shawnee with Dr. Wade Smith officiating. Services are under the direction of Integrity Funeral Service of Henryetta.
Bob joined the staff of Gaskill Funeral Home in Shawnee as a funeral director/embalmer after his graduation from mortuary school. In 2001, Bob’s name was added to the funeral home and it began operating as Gaskill-Owens Funeral Chapel, a distinction that made him very proud. Bob remained at the funeral home as the General Manager until he retired in 2001 after 54 years of continuous service to Shawnee area families.
Bob was a member of the Shawnee Kiwanis Club and served the club as it’s President in 1999. In 2000, Bob was selected as “Funeral Director of The Year” by the Oklahoma Funeral Directors Association, an organization he supported throughout his working career. Bob was a longtime member of the First Baptist Church of Shawnee and served on several church committees and as a longtime deacon there. He was also a proud member of the Masonic Lodge of Shawnee and was a 32nd degree mason.
Several years after Jean’s passing in 1998, Bob moved from Shawnee to Okmulgee to live with his son. He was instrumental in helping to establish Integrity Funeral Service of Henryetta, which opened in 2009. He remained a valued contributor and mentor for all the directors there. He later returned to Norman in 2014 to be near his daughter.
Bob is preceded in death by his mother and father; by his wife, Jean Owens; by two brothers, James Newton Owens, Jr. and John Joseph “Red Top” Owens; and by two sisters, Julia Aubrey and Jane Zumwalt; as well as several brothers-in-law.
He is survived by his daughter, Mary Jane Gorton and husband Steve of Norman; a son, Robert J. Owens, Jr. and wife Detria of Okmulgee; by four very special grandsons, James Gorton of Oklahoma City, John Gorton and wife Becky of Oklahoma City; by Jud Owens and wife Katy of Norman, and Jared Owens and wife Emily of Texas; 2 great grandchildren, Jaxon Owens and Makenzie Owens, both of Norman; by numerous nieces and nephews which he adored, and by other extended family and many good friends.
Viewing for Bob will be held on Monday, December 7, 2015 from noon to 8:00pm at Integrity Funeral Service in Henryetta.
A graveside service for Bob will be held on Tuesday, December 8, 2015 at 2:00pm at Trinity Chapel in Resthaven Memorial Park of Shawnee with Dr. Wade Smith officiating. Services are under the direction of Integrity Funeral Service of Henryetta.
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