Jerry Boyd Owen, Sr., 86, left this earth for his Heavenly home on Monday, January 27, 2020, from Baptist Memorial Hospital Golden Triangle in Columbus, MS.

Visitation will be held Friday, January 31, 2020, from 12:00 – 1:00 P.M. at Lowndes Funeral Home. A funeral service celebrating his life will be held on Friday, January 31, 2020, at 1:00 P.M. with Rev. Tommy Gillon officiating and special words from a dear friend, Pat Nunnelee of Tupelo, MS.  Interment will be at Memorial Gardens, Columbus, MS with Rev. Sammy Crawford officiating and Lowndes Funeral Home directing.

Jerry was born January 10, 1934, in the Shiloh Community, near Three Creeks outside of El Dorado, Arkansas to late John Edgar Owen and Alcie Jane Hanry Owen.  He was one of eleven brothers and sisters and also three half brothers.  Jerry never met a stranger. He loved to tell jokes and mispronounce words in his often corny humor. He was a quick wit. One of his famous sayings was, "Don't talk about people; some of my very best friends are people."  He attended public school in Arkansas and once said he proved a teacher wrong about something, stating that he "won the battle, but lost the war!" Jerry married Catherine Ruth Kale on June 7, 1958, whom he met at Citadel Square Baptist Church while serving in the U.S. Air Force in Charleston, SC.

While serving in the U.S. Air Force he held the office of Staff Sergeant and specialized in aircraft maintenance. Jerry made a career at IBM as a machine maintenance technician.  In his retirement years, he and his buddies would meet at Hardee's for coffee and biscuits and "shoot the breeze" almost every weekday morning.  He was an avid golfer and loved to play whenever he could, especially upon retirement, until his later years.  He would say, "Let's go goffs!"

He was a long-time member of Fairview Baptist Church where he sang bass in the church choir for many years and taught youth Sunday School. He later taught a Men's Sunday School class for several years.  Jerry was dearly loved and enjoyed by many and will be greatly missed.

Jerry is survived by his wife of 61 years, Ruth Kale Owen of Columbus, MS; three children, Elaine Owen Taylor (Ray) of Columbus, MS, Sarah Owen Pittman (Chuck) of Tuscaloosa, AL, and Jerry Boyd Owen, Jr. (CeCelia) of Columbus, MS; two sisters, Claudine "Dean" Owens of El Dorado, AR and Betty "Pete" Murphree of El Dorado, AR, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be Pat Nunnelee, John Taylor, Tommy Taylor, Larry Esler, and Larry Long.  Honorary pallbearers will be Roland Hill and members of John Wierengo's Senior Men's Sunday School Class, Dr. Brett Brown, Dr. Doug Hill, Ken Linton, Ralph Blackstock, Bobby Ward, and Joe Atkins.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Fairview Baptist Church, 127 Airline Rd. Columbus, MS or to the charity of your choice.