Patricia Owen

Patricia Marie Clark Owen left this earthly home and went to be with her Lord and Saviour on December 7, 2023. She loved life, and she loved her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren with all her heart. Her many friends, especially those in her church, her graduating Class of 1957 from Corsicana High School, and her piano students were always a very important part of her life. Pat was the 5th child born to Lenard Clarence and Hazel Marie Bower Clark on September 30, 1938, at Dresden, Texas. Shortly before she celebrated her 4th birthday in 1942, her family moved to Corsicana to 309 South 23rd Street where she lived until she married. She attended Sam Houston Elementary School from 1st through 7th grades. In 1st grade she joined Blue Birds, and later Camp Fire Girls. She was gifted a week-paid scholarship to attend Camp Wanica each summer. When Pat was 7 years old her Mom and Dad bought her a little white piano that had 8 white keys, and the black keys were painted on it. She began to pick out songs. That Christmas she learned to play "Silent Night". When she was 10 years old, every Saturday morning she would walk up the street to help clean for two little frail ladies. She made a whopping 35 cents an hour; however, after working 2 hours she made 70 cents which would buy a piece of material for her Mom to make her a dress. A few years later she made 50 cents an hour and saved it. Her Mom took her downtown to purchase little, short sets for her 2 nieces and 2 nephews. Pat has always loved children. Pat loved all of her teachers at Sam Houston, but Clellia Mae Callicutt, her 5th grade teacher, was her very favorite! She entered the math and spelling contests for the 5th, 6th, and 7th graders. She won first place, beating all the 6th and 7th graders. This made Mrs. Callicutt very proud of her! She faithfully visited her until she passed away at 101 years old. At age 14 Pat accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Saviour and was baptized in her church, Missionary Baptist Church, where her family had attended. She attended Junior High School in the 8th and 9th grades. She was a member of the Stardusters Singing Group. In her 8th grade year her Dad was able to purchase a piano. She began taking piano lessons from Mrs. Jimmie Mansfield where she was awarded the gold lyre pin each year for the student making the most progress. As soon as she began lessons, her church elected her assistant pianist. After a month the pianist eloped, moved out-of-town, and Pat was then elected pianist. She played for her church for the next 25 years. She loved to sing and play the piano. She played for many weddings in the years to come. She never charged for weddings, nor would she agree to being on the church payroll. She always said that God gave her a talent, made a way for her to get a piano and take lessons. Pat had learned to play the church organ and was elected assistant organist. She attended Corsicana High School and graduated in the Class of 1957 with high honors. She completed 5 years of piano. She became qualified to teach piano. Pat worked for Navarro Savings & Loan and Navarro Junior College as Secretary to Gaston T. Gooch, Dean/Registrar. She attended night school at Navarro where she completed Business and English courses. She was employed there from 1959 to 1963. On April 22, 1961, Pat married her sweetheart, James Everett Owen, and to this union was born a daughter, Diana Marie, on July 14, 1963, and a son, Wayne Edmonds, on August 1, 1966. Pat taught piano at Mrs. Mansfield's Studio for a year, and then she taught for 10 years at home. This helped with living expenses. During Diana's high school years, Pat was President of the CHS Band Boosters. While Diana and Wayne were in A'Cappella Choir, Pat also served as President of the CHS Choir Boosters. She was affectionately known as "Mama O" and was their favorite Counselor on band and choir trips. She spent many summers going on Mission Trips to Brownsville and Breckenridge, Colorado, with the youth of Northside Baptist Church where she and James became members in 1976. She was also invited by Rick Jaggers to chaperone the BSU Navarro College students on their mission trip to Brownsville and Matamoras. Pat taught her children to sing at an early age. She had such a great love for music her entire life. God gave her several songs which she composed. Later, Diana and Wayne recorded 5 of her songs on their album in 1985. They were such a blessing to their Mom and Dad as they used their talents for the Lord. Pat played for the Senior Adult Choir at Northside, Unity Baptist, Emmanuel Baptist, and the Adult Choir of First Baptist, Blooming Grove, and many residents of nursing homes. In 1971, James and Pat purchased Paul Mitchell Hardware where James had worked for nearly 15 years. She had to stop teaching piano and work with him at the store. In 1986, Pat opened Pat Owen Gifts and Bridal Registry. She knew this would give her another opportunity to again see the kids she had worked with and loved at CHS, as well as church, when they registered for their weddings. She loved ministering to people. After retirement Pat felt God leading her to gather in children who could not afford piano lessons, as she could relate. She had 12 students at one time. She held recitals for them in the Spring and at Christmas. The students memorized their pieces and were awarded a musical trophy for their hard work. It was a blessing for her to see and hear their progress. They were precious to her. She taught them for 6 years until the Covid epidemic. She never charged for teaching. Pat was preceded in death by her husband, James Everett Owen, to whom she was married almost 50 years; her parents, Lenard and Hazel Clark; grandson, Jacob Owen; sister Shirley Clark; sister and brother-in-law, Margaret and L. D. Lusk; brother, Dewey Clark; brother and sister-in–law Kennith and Betty Clark; sister and brother-in-law Sherrian and Chandler Boling; sister-in-law, Joyce Davidson; father and mother-in-law, Everett and Violet Owen; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Mildred Owen and Franklin Carroll; brother-in-law, Billy Owen; nephew, Monty Clark; niece, Debbie Clark; niece and nephew-in-law, Lorrie and James Hudson. Pat is survived by daughter, Diana Campbell of Barry, Son and wife, Wayne and Arlene Owen of Kerens, TX; granddaughters, Amy and Joseph Doucet, IV; Lauren and Alan Krutulis of Dallas, Alyssa and Logan Rasco of Abilene, Isabella Owen and Faith Owen of Corsicana; grandsons, Austin and Connie Campbell, James Tolliver II of Corsicana, Rodrick Brown of Hawaii, Isaac Owen of Corsicana; great grandsons, Thomas Campbell, Joey Doucet V, James Tolliver, III, Andrew Campbell; great granddaughters, Ainsley Campbell-Doucet, Siersha Doucet, Eliana Francis, Abigail Campbell, and Ruth Rasco; Cousins: Shirley Robinson, Butch Robinson, Thelma Lewis, Jimmy and Vernell Owen, Jan Moore; Nephews: Mike Clark, Mark Clark, David Carroll, Dee Lusk, Rodney Haynes, Russell Boling, Ben Owen, Chris Owen, Michael Owen; Nieces: Sharon Bush, Diane Wasson, Patty Lusk, Tina Pierson, Tammy Day, and Brandi Rodriguez; sister-in-law, Sherry Owen. Adopted daughters, Shirley McCarter Blanton and Kristi Kirk Wright. She had many special friends that brought joy to her life. The Family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials be given to the Pat Owen Music Scholarship Fund at Navarro College. Visitation will be Tuesday evening from 6-8pm at Griffin - Roughton Funeral Home. Celebration of Life will be Wednesday, December 13, 2023, at 2:00pm at Northside Baptist Church. Burial will follow at Oakwood Cemetery. Pallbearers are mark Clark, Mike Clark, Austin Campbell, Joe Doucet, Isaac Owen, Ben Owen, Danny Thomas, and Logan Rosco. Honorary Pallbearers are Wayne Nelson, David Caroll, Thomas Campbell, Rodney Haynes, and Chris Owen.

Patricia Owen

September 30, 1938 - December 7, 2023