Obituary of John Henry Owens, Jr.

Funeral Services for John Henry Owens, Jr. of Paynesville, MO will be held at 2:00 p.m. Monday, February 24, 2020 at Carter-Ricks Funeral Home in Elsberry, MO. Rev. Sammy Lorton, pastor of the Whiteside Holiness Church, will officiate with burial in the Elsberry City Cemetery near Elsberry. Serving as pallbearers will be John’s grandsons. Mr. Owens, 81, passed away Friday afternoon, February 21, 2020 at Maple Grove Lodge in Louisiana, MO. Born November 12, 1938 in Paynesville, MO, he was the son of John Henry and Kathryn “Kitty” Miller Smith Owens. John was a 1958 graduate of Clopton High School. He was united in marriage in 1974 in Elsberry to Marcella Mills Scherrer. He worked for many years for the Missouri Department of Transportation. He spent the majority of his years as a Foreman at the Elsberry shed, retiring as a Supervisor at the Millwood shed. He had a reputation as an excellent road grader operator. John was a member and Past-Master of the New Hope Lodge #199 A.F.&A.M. in Elsberry. John took great pride in caring for his yard. He loved being outside with Marcella, mowing, trimming and pruning. John and Marcella made their home on the Owens Home-place, on the hill in Paynesville. He was born and raised, as was his father, on this small piece of paradise. John was preceded in death by his parents, John Owens, Sr. and Kitty Owens; and one step-daughter, Tina Simpson. Survivors include his beloved wife of almost 46 years, Marcella Owens of Paynesville; two daughters: Stephanie Morris and her husband, Roy, of Elsberry, and Tammy Wombles of Shenzhen, China; two sons: John “Johnny” Watts Owens and his companion, Judy Vitale, of O’Fallon, MO, and William “Billy Wade” Owens and his wife, Donna, of Bowling Green, MO; one step-son, Harlan Scherrer of Elsberry; eighteen grandchildren and several great-grandchildren. John also leaves several in-laws, cousins, other relatives and many friends. Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until time of the service at 2:00 p.m. Monday, February 24, 2020 at Carter-Ricks Funeral Home in Elsberry. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association in care of Carter-Ricks Funeral Home, 107 S. 5th Street; Elsberry, MO 63343. Online condolences may be made at www.carterricksfuneralhome.com.