Lauretta Ann Owles' Obituary
Memorial services for Lauretta Ann Owles, 78, of Longview will be Saturday, February 24, 2024, at 10:00 am, at Rader Funeral Home in Longview followed by a graveside service at Summerfield Methodist Church. Ann passed peacefully on Sunday morning, February 18, 2024, at home surrounded by her family members lifting her up in prayer and singing her favorite hymns.
Ann was born on March 4, 1945, in Ft. Worth, Texas, to Jack Glaze West and Alvaretta Green West. Voted as “Most Witty” in her graduating class from Paschal High School, Ann then went on to attend Kilgore College and graduated from BMI School of Business in 1983. Ann worked in secretarial roles and as a realtor before becoming certified as a free-lance court reporter. She then served as the court reporter for the 307th District Court of Texas in Gregg County until retirement.
Ann also served many years as the choir director and pianist at Summerfield Methodist Church in Longview. Her beautiful soprano voice inspired us all, and she was often joined in song by her daughters for fun and family entertainment. She loved gathering with her choir friends for gospel singings with area churches and playing 42 with her neighbors. Ann delighted in thrifting and collecting second-hand treasures, antiques, and miniatures; a passion which she passed onto her children and grandchildren. More recently, Ann has enjoyed spending time with her sweetheart, Al Heard, who brought her much joy in the last year.
Among her civic interests, Ann served as the District Representative of the Texas Department of Public Safety Officers Association Auxiliary. Additionally, she supported ZONTA International of Longview working to empower women through service and advocacy and various other community groups. Later in life, Ann blessed her community by making weekly visits to sing and play at nursing homes in Longview.
Ann is most remembered for being a loving and supportive mother with a gentle spirit, complemented by her faithfulness, her intelligence and quick-wittedness, her ability to light up a room, and her warmth and grace. Always a lady, Ann is the epitome of a loving sister, mother, aunt, grandmother and great-grandmother and, in jest, the self-proclaimed “dreaded mother-in-law”.
Ann is survived by her sister, Sue West, her five children, Lynn Ojeda and husband Homero; Liz Ronning and husband John; Rebecca Howell and husband Lonnie; Greg Owles and wife Katie; Jeff Owles and wife Missy; twelve grandchildren, Maya Basdeo, Corbin Howell, Cailin Sneed and husband Shaw, Joey Basdeo, Jessica Fleet and husband Colton, Lucas Owles, Nolan Owles, Payten Owles, Jacob Ojeda, Tatum Owles, Colten Owles, Brody Owles; and great-grandchildren Hadley Ann and Paisley Jane Sneed, her cousin, Alice Cox and family, her furry companion “Coco”, as well as many other loving family and friends. Ann is preceded in death by her late husband, Harold Frank “Buddy” Owles, Jr. and her parents Jack and Alva West.
Ann and her family were blessed by the love and care of the staff of Longview Regional Hospital, Heart to Heart Hospice of Longview, and the prayers, encouragement, and love of their loved ones.
Donations in lieu of flowers may be made in Ann’s memory to Longview PAWS (Pets Are Worth Saving). https://www.longviewpaws.org/ or to the DPSOA to be included in an education fund to benefit college attendees: Department of Public Safety Officers Association, 5821 Airport Blvd. Austin, TX 78752
A live stream of the funeral service as well as a guest book can be found at www.raderfh.com.
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