Birth date: Dec 4, 1939 Death date: Apr 27, 2014
Melvyn Ray Owen, son of Jess and Mary Alma Garrett Owen, was born December 4, 1939, in Bowie, Texas. He departed this life Sunday, April 27, 2014, in Mercy Hospital, in Lebanon, Missouri, at the age of seventy-four years, four mon Read Obituary
Gonna Miss my Great uncle Ray just like my dad said i really aporeciated What he showed me out on the Farm Letting me drive the tractor and the farm truck which I loved. I am Proud to be from A hard working family proud to have all the hard working farm blood that i have whenever someone tells me at work that i am a hard worker i always say comes from my dads side of the family Gonna Miss you Uncle Ray.
I have always sheltered fond memories of my Uncle Ray. Although fond of all my Uncles, not slighting any one of them, Uncle Ray was undoubtedly my favorite. From my earliest years as a child, along with younger brother, when being cared for and baby set by my Aunt Lynda, before and after being married to Uncle Ray, along with my Dad, he was my hero in many ways. In the 50's he was somewhat of a cross between James Dean and Elvis Presley. I remember after my Aunt Lynda would pick Uncle Ray up from work at the AJ Bayless grocery store in the afternoon, racing down 4th Ave in Yuma, AZ his souped-up 1956-'57 Chevy Malibu drag racing any and all who would pull-up reaving their engines; he never lost a race! He was a man who blazed his own trail in lieu of following someone else's. He was without a doubt, a man of his own convictions; to his fault...a perfectionist. Never settling for anything but the best; anything 2nd place was way back in his rear view mirror. A lot like my own Dad, he didn't take any business from anybody, didn't dish out and/or deal any business to anybody who didn't have it coming to them; the truth doesn't hurt unless it ought to. Uncle Ray did every hard and fast. Whether it be manually sawing a 4X4 in half, or driving a boat and beaching it on shore; I know...he was the one who taught me to water ski at Senator's Wash outside Yuma, AZ in the mid 60's. He was a short-time mentor to my son, Stephen Kelly Phipps. Instead of be a distant Uncle, he was more of a distant Grandpa to him. My son, Stephen, being born a premie at 22 weeks, had experienced some health issues, along with some disabilities as a young child. Uncle Ray on three (3) occasions took Stephen under his wing, shared, showed and educated Stephen the every day life and skills as a farmer and cattle rancher. I backed off; let them both 'do their thing' and observed all of this at a far distance. I recall one morning sitting out on Uncle Ray's front porch in Lebanon, MO at 5:00 AM in the morning drinking coffee, before the morning cattle feeding chores were to begin. We had several courageous conversations about many things; our families, the cattle business, sports (baseball in particular) etc. I'll never forget that one of these mornings, he shared and stated to me a compliment of the highest order that anyone could EVER acknowledge about another man. He shared with me that he NEVER saw or knew ANYBODY who worked HARDER than my own DAD! This comment was a tribute coming from a man who worked hard all his life himself to be the best at what he did. Not just 'good' at what he did, but rather be 'great' at what he did; I'll never forget this! Moreover, "Never give an inch" demeanor, and lastly, "Never say you're sorry" habitually in frequency. If you do, then you really are..."sorry" for yourself; not necessarily others that you're saying this 'catch phrase' to and for.
In closing, as I myself get older and continue my battle with Cancer, I feel that we all should live rest of our lives being 'better' in lieu of being 'bitter' about things. All we take with us when we pass away are our experiences; nothing else. We should embrace and focus on the good, not so much on the bad. Make every good moment last a life time. Right and wrong, good and bad are not far apart
from one another. In reality they are both tangled up with each other. One cannot coexist without the other. That's the way it's been; that's the way it will always be. In this moment of sadness for the families, I offer my condolences. I wish them all peace from the troubles in their minds. I wish this for us all. Uncle Ray will be
missed. I will have nothing but fond memories of him. May he rest in peace.
G. Kelly Phipps
I am so very sorry for the recent loss of your dear loved one, Melvyn Owen. I have a brief encouraging message I would be pleased to share with you from God's Word, the Bible. The Bible can be a great source of both comfort and hope during this most difficult time in your lives. For an example, at Revelation 21:3- 5 it assures us that the day is soon to come when our most loving Heavenly Father is going to wipe away the tears of sorrow from our eyes forever and that even pain and death will be no more. I hope after reading this it will be of some comfort to each one of you. If later you would like to learn more from the Bible about why we die or why does a loving God allow so much suffering and injustice, please feel free to go to the website: ww.jw.org
I will remember my Grandpa as a man of strong convictions, a man who was well respected and most of all as a man who was loved by his family. He will be missed.
Shawntra Butler, Tallahassee Florida
