Owen L. Morrow

Owen Leroy Morrow was born January 3, 1917, to James Franklin and Frances Eudora Pannell Morrow in Deaf Smith County, Texas, nine miles south of Adrian, Texas. He was the first child of a family of seven children. When he was three months old, his parents moved to New Mexico and lived a short time with an uncle who was three miles north of House, New Mexico. For a short time, the family moved down to Tucumcari, New Mexico, where his father worked as a fireman in the railroad yards. His dad fired a boiler that operated the stream driven machinery. By the time Owen started to school, the family had moved back to House. Owen attended school in House and graduated from there as the valedictorian in the class of 1934. Owen had four brothers and two sisters. Edith was the closest sibling to him, being two and a half years younger. Then came Marvin, Melvin, Donald, Dennis, and Ola Mae. Times were hard for all and Owen worked from the time he was five, helping do chores with his parents. He would later do various farm jobs for family and friends. In about 1937, Owen got a job in the hard rock mines in Northern New Mexico. It was that year that his mother died, leaving several young children. As the mines in Tererro began closing, Owen moved to Carlsbad in 1940 and was fortunate in getting a job helping build the International Refinery. The main thing of importance that happened in 1940 was meeting a young lady at the Fox and Lake church of Christ who would become his bride August 22, 1940. That was Leola Proctor. They had two sons: Jim Leroy in 1942 and Norman Elvy in 1944. Owen always worked, and worked at many different vocations. He worked for J. P. Young at the Young Implement Co., and then in 1950 became a rock lather for a long time friend, Theron Jay. There was still a longing to do something that was a life-long love: ministry. A great mentor, Dr. Owen Puckett, told him that he should preach. Preach he did for several years as he continued working with his hands. He preached at Loving, then Hope, then Hope and Pinon. The family moved in 1955 to Greeley, Colorado, and then to Wichita, Kansas in 1957. After five years in Wichita, he preached for the La Junta, Colorado, church of Christ. His next venture came in 1966 when his old friend Theron Jay asked him to come to Carlsbad, meet with the board of Lakeview Christian Home. Owen accepted the job as its administrator. Owen held this position for fifteen years before he retired. He and Leola joined the Good Sam group during that time and had many wonderful trips and experiences with these folks. Owen was preceded in death first by his mother when she was forty, his father in 1976; his sister Ola Mae in 1982; and his sister Edith in 2006. Owen's life changed greatly when his wife Leola had some severe strokes which led to her death in 2004, after almost two years in the nursing home. He found himself working with Lakeview again as chaplain. In 2005, his son Jim suffered an untimely heart attack and death. A few months later Owen moved to St. Francis, Kansas, and lived with his son Norman and wife Mary. In 2008, Owen moved into the Good Samaritan Nursing Home in St. Francis. His later years saw him lose his eye sight, most of his hearing, and then the ability to walk. Owen passed away on Thursday, July 12, at 1:45 PM at the nursing home in St. Francis. He is survived by his son Norman and his daughter-in-law Mary; and his daughter-in-law Linda of Alamogordo, NM. His grandchildren include Lisa Squires and Steven of Las Cruces; Lana Goodman and Aaron of Las Cruces; Jim Irl Morrow and Natasha of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; John Morrow and Susan of Oklahoma City; Doug Morrow and Carie of Idalou, Texas; Dave Morrow and Talley of St. Francis, Kansas; and Derek Morrow of Burlington, Colorado. His great grandchildren are Mitchell and Alexis Squires; Stephanie, Shelby, and Sophia Goodman; Cole and Abie Morrow; Megan and Gage Morrow; Ian, Alyssa, and Amber Morrow; and Mia Morrow. Visitation will be 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM, Tuesday, July 17, 2012 at Denton-Wood Funeral Home. Services are scheduled for 10:00 AM, Wednesday, July 18, 2012 at Fox and Lake Church of Christ, 708 West Fox Street with Norman Morrow and Dr. Gary Sorrells officiating. Interment will be in Sunset Gardens Memorial Park, Carlsbad, New Mexico. Denton-Wood Funeral Home is in charge of the local arrangements. Condolences may be expressed at dentonwood.com.