Mary Owens, the daughter of Claud E. Gaulding and Amy (Small) Gaulding, was born Dec. 6, 1923, in Gainesville, Mo., and departed this life April 9, 2005, at the age of 81 years.
Mary was a resident of Ava since 1946. Mary and Leonard Samuel Owens were united in marriage Oct. 8, 1942, in Ava, and to this union two children were born. Mary was a housewife and helped her husband operate the All Night Station for 40 years. She also taught for a short time in a one room school house in Ozark County.
Mary was a member of the First General Baptist Church in Ava and the Ava Chapter #47 Order of the Eastern Star. She enjoyed her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She looked forward to the great-grandchildren invading her house after school and going to their ballgames. She also enjoyed working in her flower garden and helping her church family.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents; one sister, Mrs. Lena Wallace; one brother, John Randolph Gaulding; a grandson, Mark Kyle Owens; and her husband, Leonard Samuel Owens.
She is survived by two children, Larry Owens and wife, Vicky, and Cheryl Hopper and husband, Bill, all of Ava; six grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; three sisters, Leta Rose, Kansas City, Mo., Ellen Dye, Broken Arrow, Okla., and Mona Decker and husband, Max, Ava; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Services were held at 10 a.m., Tuesday, April 12, in the First General Baptist Church, in Ava, with the Rev. Robert Roberts officiating. Interment was in the Ava Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the First General Baptist Church Building Fund, Community Hospices of America, or Neighbor Helping Neighbor. Services were under the direction of Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava.
