William Gaylon Owens

On August 31, 1953, William Gaylon Owens Sr. was born to Wilton Arthur Owens and Opal Lonnie Harris Owens in Coumbia, Mississippi. On Tuesday, July 7, 2020, he went to be in the arms of his beloved Jesus in Heaven. Gaylon tried to fight the Covid virus, however it was too much for his body to handle. 

Gaylon was preceded in death by his father, Wilton Arthur Owens. His father-in-law,  Jeff Harper English and brother-in-law, Alex Sullivan and many other family and friends.

Gaylon is survived by his loving and caring wife of 29 years, Mary Margaret English Owens. His mother, Opal Lonnie Harris Owens, his step-Father, Guss Salley,  his mother-in-law, Martha Jo English,  his son, William Gaylon Owens Jr. (Bill) and his wife Stephanie. His son Edward Wilton Owens (Eddie) and his wife Annie. Grandsons, William Gaylon Owens III (Gaylon) and Austin McDuff. Granddaughter, CJ Owens. Twin grandaughters, Alex and Katie Owens and two great-grandsons William Gaylon Owens IV (Wheeler) and Benton Gauge Owens. He is also survived by his sister,  Lynn Owens Leflore and brother-in-law, Jeff Gann and nephew Michael Leflore. He is also survived by Mary's entire family who he loved like his own including Kathy and Allan Eason, Elle Sullivan, Mandy and Troy Black, Carlie and Guss Thompson, Paul Sullivan, Ethan Sullivan and Harper Black.  He is survived also by beloved cousins, nieces, nephews and hosts of dear family friends.

Gaylon retired from the Mississippi Highway Patrol in 2008. He reached the rank of Lieutenant and was the Director of Special Operations Unit of the MHP- MBI. Gaylon was a US Army Veteran. Gaylon was a lifelong member of Chief's Hunting Club in Holly Bluff, MS, a member of the Mississippi Retired State Trooper's Association and his retired group of the US Army Reserves 733  MP Det ( CI). Gaylon loved hunting and fishing and all sports. He especially loved spending time with his little dogs, Astro and Dolly. Gaylon loved his church family at St. Michael Catholic Church. He was his happiest when he was sitting in his special place in the church and at Mass. He loved all his family and friends.

This world will never be the same without our Gaylon. He made people smile everywhere he went.

Gaylon, I love you sweetie, you are my whole heart and always will be...I love you forever....Mary

Pallbearers will be the Mississippi Highway Patrol Honor Guard, The Warren County Sheriff's Department, Sheriff Martin Pace and The Vicksburg Police Department.

Honorary pallbearers will be all his long-time friends of Chief's Hunting Camp, members of the Rolling Fork Masonic Lodge, and the members of US Army Reserves 733  MP Det ( CI), The Mississippi Highway Patrol, MHP-MBI (both retired and present) Bill Owens, Eddie Owens, Gaylon Owens III, Austin McDuff, Jeff Gann, Doug Huskey, Chief Charles Ray McPhail, Frank G. Vollor, Esq., David Klaus, and Jeff McClendon.

On Friday, July 17, 2020, there will be a visitation held from 9 am until the hour of service at 10 am at Glenwood Funeral Home officiated by Father Robert Dore and Father PJ Curley. Interment will immediately follow at Greenlawn Cemetery behind Glenwood Funeral Home.

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