Ray Owens, age 85, of Mt. Vernon, MO, passed from this life on Friday evening, August 6, 2010, at the Mt. Vernon Place Care Center in Mt. Vernon, MO following a lengthy illness. Ray was born on July 20, 1925, in Vendor, AR, the son of the late Bill Owens and Bertha (Royce) Owens. He had attended school in Mt. Judea, AR. Ray had been a Laborer, working for the Laborers Union, Local #264 for over 52 years. He retired from J.E. Dunn Construction. On October 2, 1945 in Parthenon, AR, Ray married Vivle Marie Daniels. She survives and resides in Mt. Vernon, MO. Additional survivors include one son, Jackie Owens and his wife M'Lise, of Sarcoxie, MO; two daughters, Bertha Laurence and her husband Jim, of Siloam Springs, AR and Alice Wheeler and her husband Terry, of Harrisonville, MO; seven grandchildren; fifteen great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces and nephews. Ray was preceded in death by two brothers; and five sisters. Funeral services for Mr. Owens will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, August 9, 2010 at the Housh-Goodwin Funeral Home Chapel with Reverend Donna Jean Maybee officiating. Interment will be in the Sarcoxie Cemetery. Those gentlemen serving as pallbearers will be Donnie Rice, Tony Rice, Matt Wood, Jim Owens, Christopher Lacock and Michael Laurence. A visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Sunday evening at the funeral home. Arrangements are under the personal care and direction of Housh-Goodwin Funeral Home, Sarcoxie, MO.