Willie (Shorty) Owens, 90, of Waldron, Arkansas, went to his heavenly home March 27, 2024. Shorty was born in Scott County and lived there his entire life. he worked in the timber woods from a young age and worked at Waldron Lumber Company, Big Pine Lumber Company, and Travis Lumber Company as a millwright until his retirement. He was an amazing mechanic and without any training, prior to computers, he could fix anything.
Shorty loved fishing and hunting with his sons but his favorite sport was pulling skiers behind his boat on Lake Ouachita. He was an excellent skier and taught all his kids and many of his grandkids to ski at an early age.
Shorty also enjoyed gardening with Leota, the love of his life, and together they had amazing gardens; his watermelons and her tomatoes were legendary and they loved sharing their produce with family and friends.
He was a long time member of Temple Baptist Church in Waldron.
Shorty is survived by two daughters, Gwynda Walker (Mike) of Pea Ridge, Arkansas; Brenda Hartness of Little Rock, Arkansas; three sons, Bruce Owens (Connie) of Waldron, Arkansas; Steve Owens (Nancy) of Mt. Magazine, Arkansas; and Brian Owens (Cassie) of Mansfield, Arkansas; 13 grandchildren: Justin Keener (Leigh), Amber Owens, Megan Mueller (Michael), Lindsay Owens (Christa), Whitney Reames (Bradley), Grayson Owens, Madalyn Owens, Harper Owens, Monet Owens, Giana Owens, Julie Berry, Ashley Dipley (Jerod), Lauren Faulkenberry (Stone), and 17 great grandchildren.
He is also survived by one brother, Johnnie Ray Owens of Bauxite, Arkansas.
He is preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Leota; a son, Russell Owens, and his parents Johnnie and Pauline Owens.
Shorty’s pallbearers will be: Michael Mueller, Justin Keener, Grayson Owens, Jerod Dipley, Hunter and Bradley Reames.
His celebration of life will be at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, March 30, 2024, at the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home Chapel in Waldron, Arkansas with Rev. Jackie Smith officiating. Interment will follow in the Birdsview Cemetery in Waldron, Arkansas. Arrangements are being entrusted to the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home in Waldron, Arkansas.
There will be a visitation time from 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m. on March 30, 2024 just prior to the service.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to a charity of your choice.
