Shirley Ann Owen

On September 1, 2022, the Lord called one of his angels to come home. Brokenhearted by the recent loss of her son, Richey, Shirley answered God’s call. Shirley Ann Howard Owen was born on January 1, 1930, in Dodd City, TX, to Dodd and Floy Howard. Her mother called her the New Year’s baby. In 1947, she graduated from Dodd City High School. Shirley had a happy North Texas childhood on her family farm. However, when she moved to Dallas as a young adult, she swore she would never pick another bale of cotton. She lamented, “After being out in the hot sun with a cotton sack all day, I would think, Lord, get me off of this cotton farm.” The Lord answered her prayers.

As a young teen, Shirley met her true love, Earl Owen, on a balmy Saturday evening at the Bonham Square. Earl and Shirley were married in 1947. Soon after, they escaped the country and made Dallas their home. Although Shirley enjoyed the city life and found great success in Dallas, she remained loyal to her country roots. No amount of accomplishment would change Shirley’s humble, gentle and kind nature. People often remarked that Shirley was the sweetest person they had ever met. It was true. She was a devout Christian and member of the Church of Christ all her life, but her kindness was not only a result of her faith; it was the result of her unique, natural inner goodness. She often said, “We are all God’s children” and she treated everyone she encountered with that in mind. She showered love on her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins. There was also some love left over for Elvis Presley and George Straight.

Shirley and Earl started Earl Owen Co. in 1952. While Earl was busy with sales, marketing and purchasing, Shirley was crunching numbers on a ten-key. If there was an award for fastest 10-key, Shirley would have won first place. She honed her 10-key skills on a comptometer, which was a predecessor to the electronic calculator. Later in life she could make an Excel spreadsheet with the same vigor. She could tackle any bookkeeping challenge in her sleep. Earl and Shirley’s dedicated teamwork and natural business acumen launched one of the largest distributorships of auto accessories in the Southwestern United States. The two of them worked side-by-side for almost 50 years and were considered pioneers in their industry. They loved to attend the SEMA show every year in Las Vegas.

Even though Earl loved to work, Shirley was able to drag him all over the world. They especially loved to cruise. Shirley cruised to practically every corner of the earth. Her favorite trips were Australia, Hawaii, Dubai and Vietnam. She also had fond memories of a Russian cruise she took in 2013.

Shirley is survived by her daughter Sheri Cherokee, daughter Lisa Batson and her husband Tom, daughter-in-law, Joyce Owen; grandchildren Charity Logozzo and her husband Rocco, Earl Richey Owen, III and his wife Amy, Rebecca Wasoba and her husband Keith, Blair Batson, Erika Batson and Bradley Batson; great-grandchildren Jazmine Wright and her husband Stephen, Zachary Styles, Reese Owen, Riley Owen and Owen Wasoba. She will be missed by many loving nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband Earl Richey Owen, Sr. and her son Earl Richey Owen, Jr.

Donations may be made to Arms of Hope at 21300 State Hwy. 16 North Medina, TX, 78055.

Memorial service will be at 2:00 PM, Sunday, September 4, 2022, at Edgemere Dallas, 8523 Thackery St., in Dallas. Viewing/visitation will be Sunday evening from 5:00-6:00 PM at Sparkman/Hillcrest Funeral Home, 7405 W. Northwest Hwy., in Dallas. Private graveside will be held at a later date.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.Sparkman-Hillcrest.com for the Owen family.