Leroy Hubert Owens, 96, of Union City, Tenn., formerly of Clarksdale passed away at the Obion County Nursing home, on June 16, 2020.
Graveside services will be held in Clarksdale at Oakridge Cemetery at 1:30 p.m. Friday, June 19, 2020 with Dr. Cecil Sewell officiating.
Pallbearers are all the family members and honorary pallbearers are the members and friends of the Hardees Coffee club in Union City, Tenn.
Leroy Owens was born on Oct. 3, 1923 in Dell, Ark. His parents were A.C. and Artie Bourland Owens. Leroy was a cute redhead and was fondly known as “Red”. He was the oldest of eight children and was the last living sibling.
Leroy graduated from Manila High School in 1942. He went to Memphis and worked on a boat on the Mississippi River. In 1945, he returned to Blytheville, Ark., to work in his Daddy’s farm equipment store. In 1948, Leroy joined the Delta Farm Equipment Company. They had six stores and he worked in Manila, Ark. and Vicksburg before he decided to go to Alaska where he stayed for three years. In Alaska, Leroy worked with the ground crew for a coal mine. He drove 5,200 miles by himself to Fairbanks, Alaska in 1957.
When Leroy came home, he returned to the farm equipment business. In 1962, Leroy moved to Clarksdale to work for Delta Farm Equipment again. In 1965, Leroy married Julia O’Neal.
In 1985, after several years of friendship, Leroy Owens married Mary Lois Jordan. Leroy and Mary Lois loved to travel. They traveled to all fifty states and several foreign countries including China, Japan and the Holy Land. Their next move was to Union City, Tenn., in 2002 to be near their grandson, Eli Lyn Jordan. In Union City, they were active members of The First Baptist Church where they formed many lifelong friendships. Leroy loved his life in Union City and enjoyed fellowship with friends at his morning coffee gatherings.
Leroy is survived by stepsons Dr. Rob Jordan (Stacy) Union City, Tenn., and Steve O’Neal (Charlotte) Bartlett, Tenn.; grandsons Shane Jordan (Emily) Senatobia, Kameron Jordan (Anna) Madison, Justin O’Neal, Bartlett, Tenn., Eli Jordan, Union City, Tenn., and Granddaughters Moriah O’Neal Schottel, Collierville, Tenn., and Jennifer Jordan McGimsey (Brian) Shreveport, La., and 14 Great-Grandchildren.
Preceded in death by Julia O’Neal Owens, Mary Lois Jordan Owens, Stepsons, Hilliard O’Neal, Lyn Jordan, Russell Jordan, Sisters, Marguerite Owens Deason (Claude), Mildred Owens Ferguson (John), Kicky Owens Ziegler (Joe) , Gracie Owens Morrison (Bill), Brothers, Laverne Owens (Maxine), Vance Owens (Laverne), Max Owens.
White-Ranson Funeral Home is handling arrangements.
