Jackson Coley Owens was born March 21, 1918 in Oklahoma City, OK to Marvin Franklin Owens and Levis Coley Owens. He grew up in Miami, OK and graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a degree in Electrical Engineering and was a member of Sigma Nu Fraternity. He married Margo Harwell in 1942 and designed electrical systems for bomber planes during WWII. After the war he returned to OU and earned a degree in Petroleum Engineering. After working in the oil industry in west Texas he moved with his family to Tulsa and began his long career as an independent oil producer. He was an avid aviator and enjoyed flying his own airplane any place he thought he could land. In 1968 he married Lanette Webber and they enjoyed almost 47 years of marriage traveling across the country and abroad. They particularly enjoyed their yacht, the JaLa, based in Corpus Christi, TX. Jack was very active in the United States Power Squadron reaching the rank of District Commander. He loved anything that moved – planes, trains and automobiles! He loved steam locomotives and traveled to train meets around the country. He was an avid tinkerer and loved gadgets of all kinds. In his later years he was very active with remote controlled airplanes. He was a long time member of First Presbyterian Church in Tulsa and served as a Deacon and Trustee.
He is survived by his devoted and loving wife of 46 years Lanette. He is also survived by his two daughters Caroline Owens Crain of Tulsa, OK and Margaret Owens Dunham and her husband Mikel of Santa Monica, CA; his step-daughter Cathy Akin of Tulsa and daughter-in-law Sherry Owens of Tulsa; grandchildren Stacey Owens Holt and husband Carey of Flower Mound, TX, Lindsay Owens Schlatter of Los Angeles, CA, Jackson Coley Crain and Sarah Caroline Crain of Tulsa, Adrian Jackson Dunham and Zachary Maxwell Dunham of Los Angeles, CA, Don Akin of Orange, CA, Travis Cantrell, wife Aimee and children of Owasso and Tyler Cantrell, wife Whitney and daughter of Broken Arrow; and three great grandchildren Kendall and Griffin Holt and Devin Schlatter; and many nieces and nephews. Jack was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Margo, his son Robert Harwell Owens, his brothers Marvin Franklin Owens, Jr. and Benjamin Thomas Owens and his grandson-in-law Pete Schlatter.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2015 at First Presbyterian Church in Tulsa with burial to take place at 3:00 p.m. at Memorial Park Cemetery in Tulsa, OK. Viewing will be held from 1 – 7 pm on Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2015 at Moore Funeral Home Southlawn Chapel, 9350 E. 51st Street, Tulsa, OK 74145. Please visit Jack's online website at
www.moorefuneral.com
.
The family has requested memorials be made to First Presbyterian Church Helping Hands fund, 709 South Boston Avenue, Tulsa, OK 74119; Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, 825 Northeast 13th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73104; or charities of one's choice.