Vysta Anne Owen

Anne, as she was known, was born in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, but grew up in Houston, Texas, raised in the community of Faith United Methodist Church and graduating from Milby High School. She briefly attended Sam Houston State before returning to Houston where she served as a Triggerette for the Colt 45s and then served as a Spacette when the team moved to the Astrodome and was renamed the Astros. She and her sister Pat were both members of the USO at Ellington Air Field and would attend the dances held there with the airmen. She settled in South Houston after her marriage to her first husband, Don Cherry.

After a long career working as a bookkeeper for Signal Gas/Charter Oil, the Harris County Sheriff's Department, and American Gear, Anne retired at the age of 75 to become a caregiver for her second husband, Ebb "Buck" Owen as he suffered from Parkinson's disease. Anne loved her jobs and made many friends over the years.

Anne was twice widowed, being preceded in death by both Don Cherry and Buck Owen, as well as her parents, Edgar "Skip" Roberson and Maude Roberson, two of her sisters, Jane Colvin and Pat Schurtz (Doug), her stepson, Vann Cherry, and numerous friends and relatives. She is survived by her sister, Rebecca Rogers, her niece, Jennifer Jackson (Michael Wilson), her nephews, Derek Colvin (Terry), Doug "Skip" Schurtz (Neely), Bryan Rogers (Olivia), Allen Rogers (Elizabeth Nowrouz), and their families, her husbands' children, Paula Cherry Smith (Gary), Vann's wife Diana Cherry, Guy Randy Cherry (Charlotte Cherry-Dennis), Shelly Owen, Tom Owen, and grandchildren Kristi Anne Smith Freeze, Ryan Smith (Lori), Andrew Smith, Kandice Cherry, Shannon Cherry Adams, Laura Cherry Belvin, and their families, and many beloved friends.

Anne loved animals and rescued and trained many dogs throughout her life. Her dog, Lana, has been in the care of a friend of her niece, Jennifer, for the last year and has been living her best dog life, having her own room with her own doggy door outside, playing well, eating well, and regularly visiting Anne at Parmer Woods.

Anne requested that there be no memorial service for her, but if friends and family would like to honor her life, gifts may be made in her memory to the Houston Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals or the Wounded Warrior Project.

Anne's family would like to give special thanks to the staff of Parmer Woods North Austin and The Arbour at Westminster in Austin for helping us to take such good care of her and giving her a wonderful end of life experience. Anne's friends agree her last toast on Thanksgiving Day does well to encapsulate her spirit: "Here's to you, and here's to me, may we never disagree, but if we do, to hell with you, and here's to me!" Godspeed Anne, we love you.