William "Mike" Kown

William Michael (Mike) Kown, age 77 of Cartersville, Georgia passed peacefully surrounded by his loving family on Sunday, December 29th, 2024. He was born on May 9th, 1947 to Herman Milo Kown and Lanelle Allen Kown. Mike was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Joan Tidwell Kown; daughters Julie (Ben) Morris and Jenna (Glenn) Harris; grandchildren Katie (Will) Gee, Karlie Abernathy, Chandler Morris, Lauren Morris, and Lindy Morris; great-granddaughter Addie Lane Gee and bonus great grandchildren Kensley and Maddox Harris; sister Deborah Kown Royer; brother-n-law Tony (Lisa) Tidwell; and nieces Devin Royer, Lindsey (Carlton) Fuqua and Shelley Cromer.

Mike grew up attending and was a member of Tabernacle Baptist Church. He joined Oakland Heights Baptist Church in 1967 and was ordained as a deacon in 1975. He was also a long-time member of the Cartersville Masonic Lodge #63. Mike was a graduate of Cartersville High School, class of 1966 and took great pride in being a Purple Hurricane football player, where he was respectfully titled “Broozer!” It was in high school that he met the love of his life Joan. He adored her and was a living testimony to his children and grandchildren of his unwavering, faithful, and sacrificial love for her. The life he built with her and their family was his greatest treasure here on Earth. If you ever encountered him, you may not have learned his name, but you would walk away knowing he was a grandfather to two sets of twin girls and a grandson that he loved unmeasurably. Beyond the titles listed above, he was also known to some as Granddaddy, Grandpa, and Mikey.

Many knew him as a familiar face at City Motors of Cartersville in his younger years. Later, he was employed at Lockheed Martin Aircraft and retired from there in 2011. He had a love for old cars and could always be seen smiling ear to ear when driving his 1932 red Ford Roadster. He was an avid outdoorsman, enjoying fishing and hunting. However, after the birth of his grandchildren, he reveled in the role of their biggest fan, attending every game, competition, and match, while also being their transportation to and from practices when needed, and making countless trips to take them their forgotten equipment or practice essentials. Another delight of his retirement was being a member of the ROMEO’s group (Retired Old Men Eating Out) where he was reacquainted and shared time and stories with some of his oldest and dearest high school friends. He was a giver and a fixer. If he has never paid for your meal, it's because you weren’t eating near him or at the same restaurant.

A special thank you to caregivers Jannette Harvey and Darlene Dover for their help and dedication to Mike’s health the last four years. Although all of Mike’s family assisted in more ways than one to his care, special acknowledgement must be given to Ben Morris for his daily and nightly assistance to Mike, going above and beyond a son-in-law’s duties or expectations. His family will forever be indebted to him for his actions and sacrificial love for Mike.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held Thursday, January 2 at 2:00 pm at the Owen Funeral Home Chapel with long time best friend Jerry Garland and Rev. Sammy Burgess officiating. The family will receive friends prior to the service from 11:00 to 2:00 pm at Owen Funeral Home. Interment will follow the service at Sunset Memory Gardens.

Pallbearers will be Will Gee, Jose Canelon Jarrad Smith, Carlton Fuqua, Brenton Baggett, and Randy Jenkins.

Honorary Pallbearers will be Lamar Wilson, Ronnie Nix, Allen Tatum, Kenneth Bryson, Lint Stegall, and Bill Hunt.