James Bullard Owens

James B. “Jim” Owens, 95, passed away peacefully at his home in Deatsville, Alabama, on January 15, 2024. He was preceded in death by his beloved and devoted wife of nearly 68 years, Theresa. He is survived by his two children and their families: Anne (Russ) Barbero, and Jimmy (Vicki) Owens. He was “Grandaddy” to 6 grandchildren, Nathan (Lindsay), Josh (Joy), Daniel (Brooke) Owens; Ryley Culver, Carrie (Joe) Rodgriguez, and Jennifer (Ben) Fuller and 16 great-grandchildren, Madelyn, Hailey, Luke, Caleb, Asher, Lydia, Isla, Cora Owens; Bryan (Alyssa) Shy; Drew, Anna, Olivia Rodriguez; Sam, Abel Culver; Henry, and Caroline Fuller. He had one great-great-grandchild, Lawson Shy.

He was born on October 18, 1928, to James Lucien and Verna Mae Owens in the small Crenshaw County community of Savelle, Alabama. He had one brother, Hubert, born 7 years earlier. He was born into a farming life with hard work, responsibility, and good-natured fun a part of his daily life. He attended Highland Home High School while working for himself and for the county road service operating a road grader. His love for machines was evident in the enjoyment he found in driving, repairing, and modifying as many different types of tractors, automobiles, motorcycles, and farm trucks as he had opportunity. He was too young for WW2, but in 1948, he enlisted in the US Navy, graduating from boot camp with honors and serving with distinction on a destroyer out of San Diego, CA, operating in the Pacific waters and the China Sea. He left his car, guitar, and his planted peanut crop in the field with his brother. The military was in a period of downsizing and his father wrote to say he was needed on the farm. The Navy discharged him in 1950. He went to work for Continental Trailways Bus Line of Montgomery, driving buses. He met his future wife, Theresa Lipscomb, who commuted daily on his bus from Autaugaville to Montgomery. They were married in 1951. He drove for 5 years before working several different jobs. In 1960 he began his employment with McQueen Smith Farms in Prattville, repairing and maintaining their farm equipment. He retired from full-time work with them around 1991. His opinion and innovating solutions were often sought after by neighboring farmers with cotton picker or equipment problems. He was one of the first members of the Prattmont Church of Christ, formed in 1962. He became an elder in 1985, serving for close to 30 years before resigning to care for his wife in her failing health. He and Theresa owned various travel trailers and motor homes throughout the years. In their retirement, they traversed the US, making one over the road trip to Alaska. Always around country music, he was a self-taught musician playing harmonica, fiddle, and guitar. He was a member of a local band as a teenager where he was band manager, emcee, comedian, and played whatever instrument was needed for the song performed. He and Theresa began making yearly trips to fiddle conventions in Tennessee and Athens, Alabama, for the State title competitions. He won State Championship Harmonica in 2018 and numerous first places for his harmonica and novelty jug playing in Smithville, TN. He will be missed by all who knew him.

A visitation for James will be held Friday, January 19, 2024 from 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM at Ridout's-Brown-Service Prattville Chapel, 347 East Main Street, Prattville, AL 36067, followed by a funeral service from 1:30 PM. Burial to follow at Oakhill Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers will be Josh Owens, Joe Rodriguez, Drew Rodriguez, Ben Fuller, Sam Culver, and Mike Sutton.