Spencer Jones Owens

Spencer Jones Owens of Heflin, Louisiana, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at the age of 80 after an extended battle with dementia and more recently pancreatic cancer. He is now resting in the arms of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

He is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Carol Beth (Scarborough) Owens;

His children, Christi (Owens) Smith and husband Rob, and Patrick Owens and wife Dacia (Knudson);

His grandchildren, Gage Weaver and wife Galyn, Connor Smith and fiancé Zach Martin, Mclane Smith and wife Hannah, Ella Spencer Smith, Ava Owens, and Spencer Drake Owens;

And his great-grandchildren, Kai Weaver, Yalli Weaver, Silas Weaver, Darson Weaver, Penelope Weaver, Noah Bozeman, and Campbell Smith.

Spencer was born in Haughton, Louisiana on November 24, 1945, to Garland and Mercer Mae (Jones) Owens. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, William Floyd “Bill” Owens.

As a young man, Spencer attended Haughton High School and was active in the FFA organization. This led to his pursuit of a vocational agriculture degree starting at Louisiana State University and completed at Louisiana Tech in 1969. Shortly after, he began his 43-year career teaching agriculture, earth science, wood shop, and hunter education, across Heflin High School, Central Junior High School, Lakeside High School, and Johnson Bayou High School.

Spencer’s passion for teaching and the outdoors made a positive impact on countless students both inside and outside the classroom. On any given day, you may learn about metamorphic rocks, handcrafting a bluebird box, or building a Louisiana pirogue. Upperclassmen would pass down the “secret” that if you could get him started talking about hunting or fishing at the beginning of class, you may never get to the exam scheduled for that day. Generations of young hunters learned about conservation and safety in his class while conducting their shooting qualification on school grounds.

In addition to teaching, Spencer lived to hunt and fish. Throughout the years, this included quail hunting in the early days, catfishing for opelousas on Toledo Bend, duck hunting in Louisiana and Arkansas, white perch and bass fishing on Bistineau, deer hunting in the piney woods, saltwater fishing at Holly Beach, and trout fishing in the mountain west. He loved it all and always wanted to share these pursuits with family, friends, and students.

Spencer leaves a legacy of honesty and integrity, kindness to strangers, genuine friendship, quick-witted humor with a contagious smile, ingenuity when in a bind, passion for God’s creations in the outdoors, and an unwavering love for his family. Those who wish to honor Spencer should carry these traits forward in their own lives, allowing his light to continue to shine.

Visitation will be held on Friday, September 11, 2026 at Hill Crest Memorial Funeral Home, 601 Hwy 80 in Haughton from 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm. Services will begin 10:30 am on Saturday, September 12, 2026 ay Hill Crest Memorial Chapel with Rubin Weaver and Tommy Jones officiating. Burial will follow at Hill Crest Memorial Park.

Honoring Mr. Spencer as pallbearers will be: Gage Weaver, Drake Owens, Rob Smith, Billy Fish, Brian Glymph, Zach Martin, Shawn Brunson and Dusty Reynolds.

Honorary pallbearers will be: Gene Reynolds, Boyd Boudreaux, Brian Benoit and William Fish.

If you would like to make a donation in lieu of flowers, the family requests that you consider memorial donations to Dream Hunt Foundation or Les Feldick Ministries, 30706 W. Lona Valley Road, Kinta, Oklahoma 74552.