Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Owens, Ray W. 2000
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Marilyn Ransom mransom311@gmail.com August 10, 2014, 4:44 pm

The Ionia Sentinel-Standard, March 28, 2000


Mr. Ray W. Owens, 79, of Ionia, passed away Sunday, March 26, 2000 at Ionia 
County Memorial Hospital in Ionia.  Ray was born Jan. 16, 1921, in Battle 
Creek, the son of Ray E. and Elizabeth (Strole) Owens.  He grew up and attended 
school in Battle Creek, graduating from Athens High School.

Mr. Owens served his country with the U.S. Army in the European Theatre during 
World War II, and was honorably discharged as sergeant.  He married Donna Marsh 
on Dec. 29, 1945, at the Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Marshall.  

In 1954 Ray bought A&M Heating from Arnold Masengale.  In 1956, he merged his 
business with Don Barker Coal Co. and it became known as Barker’s Inc.  In 1976 
Ray bought Barker’s Inc. and owned and operated it until 1987.   He also sold 
insurance for National Life & Accident, was branch manager for Holland Furnace 
co. in Big Rapids and drove for the Ionia County Commission on Aging.  Most 
recently, Ray was employed by McCord’s Farm Market and Meijer as a greeter 
where he was reacquainted with so many of his former customers from Barker’s.  

Mr. Owens and Don Stanton started the Ionia Ambassadors.  Ray was also involved 
with the Chamber of Commerce, was Lieutenant Governor of Michigan Kiwanis and 
President of the local chapter.  He became an exhausted Rooster of the Ionia 
Jaycees.  He was a life member and past vice president of Travel Trailer Club 
Midwest, President of Restless Ones Trailer Club, a member of the Travelers 
Protective Association, a life member of the Sheridan V.F.W. Post #506, 
President of the St. John’s Lutheran School Board of Education and a member and 
past elder of St. John’s Lutheran Church.  Ray liked to fish, hunt and make 
lamps, which he enjoyed showing at numerous craft shows.  

Mr. Owens is survived by Donna, his wife of 54 years; two sons and four 
daughters, Terry (Sue) Owens of Pewamo, Carole (Raymond) Sanocki of Ionia, 
Claire (Richard) Crutts of Owosso, Patricia (John) Cherpes of Ionia, Debra 
(Dave) Montgomery of Ionia and James (Stephanie) Owens of Ionia; 12 
grandchildren, Kenyon and Jamie Owens, Stuart and Nicole Owens, Jaime Owens, 
Ben and Lynette Kirby, Kevin and Melissa Piggott, Johnny Cherpes, Elizabeth and 
Richard Zamarron, Joshua and Rob Montgomery, Melissa Montgomery, Joanna Owens 
and Shawn Haring; 16 great-grandchildren, Ashlynd, Haleigh and Jarryd Owens, 
Nicki Owens, Justin Owens, Anita Seely, Lexus Frye, Garrett and Parker Kirby, 
Brandon, Larissa and Trevor Piggott, J.D. and Keisten Zamarron, Brianna Ardis 
and Taylor Sylvia Wood; three sisters, Louise Wadsworth of Quincy, Elizabeth 
(Edward) Evans of East Leroy and Nancy (Ken) Carson of North Bend, Ore., one 
brother-in-law, Warren Marsh of Battle Creek; numerous nieces and nephews.  He 
was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Richard Puffer and Raymond 
Puffer; two sisters, Margaret Pierce and Rose Puffer; one sister-in-law, Beulah 
Marsh.

Funeral services for Ray W. Owens will be Thursday at 11 a.m. at St. John’s 
Lutheran Church, Iona, with Pastor Paul Yanke officiating.  Interment will be 
in Easton Cemetery.  Visitation is today and Wednesday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. 
and 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Cook Funeral Home, Rich Street chapel, Ionia.  
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to St. John’s Lutheran 
School.  Envelopes are available at the church or Cook Funeral Home.


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