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| Jim Owen in High School |
The Owen family was living in Lincoln, Nebraska when he
joined the church. It was during WWII and James was in the Army. A buddy in
radio school, LeGrand Lee, shared the gospel message with him. Dad joined the church, and in 1947 came west to attend
BYU in Provo, UT. He met Reva Maxine Moulton at the Heber J. Grant Library and convinced her to take a chance on him. Even though he wasn't a dancer and Maxine loved dancing, they were married in the Salt Lake Temple in
1948.
No one in my father’s family ever joined the LDS church during his lifetime but
my dad was motivated to find all the names of his deceased family members. As his daughter, I was enlisted in his cause and
in the 1970’s we did much of the LDS temple ordinance work in behalf of the Owen family ancestors.
Dad's Patriarchal Blessing speaks of his desire to share the "Glad Tidings". He was like the prophet Mormon of old who wrote: "I am a disciple of Jesus Crhsit, the Son of God. I have been called of him to declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life (3 Nephi 5:13)." Dad continued to teach and preach, first as a seminary teacher, then as a Stake Missionary, as a Sunday School Gospel Doctrine teacher and then as an ordained Seventy. More importantly, he always taught his own nine children as a concerned father. Though he wasn't a perfect disciple, Dad did his best.
Dad's Patriarchal Blessing speaks of his desire to share the "Glad Tidings". He was like the prophet Mormon of old who wrote: "I am a disciple of Jesus Crhsit, the Son of God. I have been called of him to declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life (3 Nephi 5:13)." Dad continued to teach and preach, first as a seminary teacher, then as a Stake Missionary, as a Sunday School Gospel Doctrine teacher and then as an ordained Seventy. More importantly, he always taught his own nine children as a concerned father. Though he wasn't a perfect disciple, Dad did his best.
He mourned...for his father who
died when dad was but a boy of 7 years old.
He was loved by...dear
friends from high school and college.
He was an athlete...a
football and basketball star who went to Nebraska state competitions a few
times.
He found...the gospel
while serving in the Army as a radio engineer.
He left home...and came
west to get his patriarchal blessing, go to BYU, and find his Queen.
He married...in the Salt
Lake Temple. He loved...his "Queen Maxine" and we all knew it.
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| Wedding Reception in Moulton home, June 2, 1948 |
He graduated... from BYU
because he wanted to proclaim the the restored gospel of Jesus Christ as a teacher of youth.
He taught...3 years in the
LDS seminary in Burley, Idaho and started a youth basketball league there as well.
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| James Owen was in an iron lung similar to this after contracting polio in Burley, Idaho |
He relearned...how to walk
after contracting polio.
He was determined...and
worked as a janitor to pay for Chiropractic College in Portland.
He served...wherever he
was called in the church and without.
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| James A. Owen Birthday, Feb. 7, 1959 |
He felt strongly...that
liberty and freedom were worth sacrificing for.
He was elected...as
precinct committee man and county/state convention delegate, working hard to
get "good men" in office.
He defended...the freedoms
of all as a "Title of Liberty Defender" and hosted 100's of meetings
in our home.
He obeyed...and dropped
the "constitutional fight" when he was so counseled by those above
him.
He tried...to share what
was most important to him at every turn.
He had a life long
thirst...for knowledge about a variety of subjects.
He succeeded...in raising
9 great children and running a successful business.
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| Dr. James A. Owen, Chiropractic Physician |
He was human...he made
mistake for which we can forgive him. But he tried his best and
apologized for his errors.
He enjoyed... a good ball
game and even some championship wrestling.
He demonstrated...how to
take your shoe off and drop it from the top of the Astoria column.
He honored the name of
Owen and tried to do family history work. He loved his widowed mother
deeply.
He traveled...to Texas for
Seminars, to the midwest to show his family his roots, to Utah to be with mom's
family, and to Nebraska for his 40th High School reunion.
He succeeded...in getting
Grandma Ida Fish Owen to move to Oregon and gently cared for her until her death.
He provided...for a large
family for many years. Even though we moved 6 times in Portland, it was
always about building a better practice so he could better provide.
He home taught...even
though Marilyn Weiss didn't really like him, he faithfully came.
He built the kingdom...as
a Seventy and a Stake Missionary for many, many years.
He expounded...the gospel
of Jesus Christ for many years as a Gospel Doctrine teacher.
He worked hard...at
everything he did, and taught his children how to work as well. (How thankful
we were for the Sabbath Day!)
He delighted... in his
children...all nine. He always seemed happiest when we gathered as a
family.
He set...an example to all
who knew him.
He was a faithful
Priesthood holder who desired to preside over his righteous posterity.
He died young...only 59
years of earth life. He had accomplished his mission.
He left a legacy that is
worth remembering.
His children best honor him by keeping the commandments of God.James A. Owen's most important converts were his own nine children. We were all influenced by his strong testimony. I believe he continues to do his missionary work from the other side of the veil.
Thanks, Dad, for sharing "glad tidings."
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| Christmas, 1966 |
"How beautiful are the feet of them
that preach the gospel of peace
and bring glad tidings of good things."
(Romans 10:15)
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