Harry Joe Owens' Obituary
Funeral services for Harry Joe Owens, 84, a longtime Longview oil and gas operator and businessman, will be held at 12:00 noon, January 5, 2012 at the First United Methodist Church of Longview with the Reverend Mike Schutz and Jay Barnes officiating under the direction of Rader Funeral Home of Longview. Interment will follow in Rosewood Park.
Harry was born Christmas Day, 1927, to Roy Madison and Gertrude Glass Owens in Randlolph, Texas. He spent his early years in Bonham, Texas and graduated from Bonham High School. He attended Kemper Military Academy in Booneville, Missouri and the University of Texas at Austin. After serving two years with the Army, he returned to the University of North Texas in Denton to receive his degree in banking and finance. This is where he met his future wife, Nan McElwee.
He was a member of the First United Methodist Church, where he served on the Administrative Board and the Finance Committee, and also served on the board at Asbury House; however, his favorite job at the church was ushering and greeting people at the front door.
His first job out of college was with the home office of American National Insurance Company in Galveston. In 1952, he took a job with Eppler, Guerin and Turner brokerage firm in Longview. A short time later he started working with an oilman named Joe Bander. After 10 years, he opened his own office and business with his good friend, Bruce Wilson.
Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Nan McElwee Owens; a son Chris and wife Sara of Plano, Texas; a daughter, Carol Murphy of Longview, TX and his grand boys, Steven, Benjamin, Elliot, and a step-grandson Jeff Patterson. He also leaves behind his brother, Pat and his wife, Fran and special niece Patti Stone and husband, Jeff, and their children, Forest and Graham of Evergreen, CO.
Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church, 400 N. Fredonia St., Longview, TX 75601; the Asbury House, 320 S. Center St., Longview, TX 75601 or to favorite charity.
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