Robert Butler Owens
November 28, 1939 - September 12, 2024
Robert Butler Owens, 84, was called Home on September 12, 2024. He was born on November 28, 1939, in Wilmar, Arkansas. He was preceded in death by his father, Fred McClure Owens; mother, Laura Mae Butler Owens; first wife, Charlotte Key Owens; infant daughters, Shelly and Charlotte Owens; second wife, Faye West Owens; brother, Mac Owens; and sisters, Leslie Bean and Margurite White. He is survived by a bonus sister, Laura Whitaker. He is survived by his daughters, Kelly (Bill) Gilliam, Jamie Martin, Jana (Shawn) Wright, Koby (J.J.) Bayliss; grandchildren, Dustin Barnett, Brittany (Bradley) Sears, Ethan (Brandi) Gilliam, Taylor (Heath) Swain, and Jakob Bayliss and great-grandchildren, Sawyer Sears and Beaux Swain. He also leaves behind three bonus daughters, Sheila (Brian) Watts and Tona (Dave) Wesson and Kitty Binns, as well as several cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Robert was of the Methodist faith and a member of Andrews Chapel Church. He was a former employee of AP&L, where he worked for over 30 years. A proud alumnus of Wilmar High School, he was a former basketball player and active in school activities. Before his health declined, he enjoyed attending Wilmar All School Reunions.
His interests included reading about South Arkansas history, primitive cooking methods, cookbooks, homesteading, and Western novels. In his younger days, he enjoyed woodworking, canning, and gardening. He could also be found at the river doing some fishing, camping, and squirrel hunting. He loved to fry fish.
Robert was a great cook. He could fry the best potatoes with onions and make the best homemade sauerkraut anyone could ever have. He and his wife Faye were very proud of the homemade fruitcakes they made and babied before Christmas every year.
He loved connecting with friends and reminiscing about the past and staying up-to-date on all things Wilmar School related. His final interest was in helping restore the old Wilmar School bell.
He was the family historian. If there was anything we needed to know about a family tree, an old event that had happened, who was related to whom, or basically anything, he knew the answer. He never forgot anything.
Robert was a man of few words, but he loved his family in his own way. He often recalled fondly when all of us girls lived at home. When he related the story to other people, he called us his group of magpies because we were so loud. However, he seemed to miss those days. Words cannot express how much he will be missed by his family and friends.
A special thanks to Arkansas Hospice for the care that Robert received along with his special friends, Ethan and Chaplain Alex Brown.
A visitation will be held Sunday, September 15, 2024, at Stephenson-Dearman Funeral Home Chapel from 2:00-3:00 p.m. with a memorial service to follow afterwards at 3:00 p.m. You can sign Robert's guestbook registry on this page.
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