Gessie Lou Owens

She was born May 19, 1936 in Cabool, Missouri, to Roy and Opal Faye Ellis.

She was a longstanding member of Grant Avenue Freewill Baptist Church and a well-known dog instructor and handler in the Springfield area for over 30 years.

Gessie was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Giles E Owens; two brothers, Virgil Ellis and Norman Ellis; and a sister, Rutheen Snellgroves.

She is survived by her sons, Michael Owens, Mark Owens and wife Stacey, and Bradley Shawn Owens and partner Charles Alexander; her grandsons, John Mark Owens and Cameron Owens; her granddaughter, Kristina Owens; two stepdaughters, Judi Finnell and Barbara Carlson and husband Jim and their children; two brothers, Estel Gene Ellis and wife Polly and Roy Lee Ellis; three sisters, Delores Alexander, Benereen Sparks and Bonnie Sue Turman; many nieces and nephews and numerous friends.

Funeral services were held Friday, September 5, 2014, at 1:00 p.m. at Gorman-Scharpf Brentwood Chapel. Burial was in Springfield National Cemetery.