Nick Owens

Nick James Owens passed away on Wednesday, September 25th, 2024 at Cox South Hospital in Springfield, Missouri, after a brief illness. He was 70 years old.

Nick was born in Kansas City, Missouri on May 11th, 1954 to Robert Lee and Theresa May (Seitz) Owens. He attended Christ the King elementary school and Bishop Hogan high school, class of 1972.

At age 18 years Nick left Kansas City and moved to Ozark County, to be a property overseer of a 200 acre lake vacation property.

In 1974 he met Gayla Vogts. That short meeting changed his life. He received a small blue book, claiming to be the true explanation of Bible teachings. He started reading and didn’t put it down till he had read it cover to cover. It was the very first book he had read from start to finish. In one night he had the answers he needed. Nick immediately began studying the Bible with Jehovah’s Witnesses and attending all the meetings. His first congregation Bible study was held in Shirley Stubblefield’s house. He is the first known person to accept the Bible message from then unassigned OZARK county. He dedicated his life to Jehovah and was baptized on January 5th, 1975. Nick and Gayla were married later that year. They went on to have two children, a daughter Mandy with her husband Aaron, and a son, Josh. They also have 6 grandchildren ranging in age from 10-25, Danielle, Jordan, Brianna, Joshua Jr, Bradley and Gracie. He is also survived by his sister Janith Marie (Owens) Irick and his brother Gary Ray Owens, as well as numerous nephews and nieces.

Nick has served as a ministerial servant, elder, and pioneer for many years. As a family they moved twice to help congregations in need, one of which was for the deaf. Nick learned sign language to help in both moves.

The phrase “Jack of all trades, master of none” really applied to Nick. He could turn his hand to almost anything. But the occupation closest to his heart was being able to preach and teach the good news about his God, Jehovah, and about his king, Jesus Christ.

Nick was preceded in death by his father, his mother, and his brother Michael Lee Owens.

A memorial will be held on Saturday, October 12, 2024 at 1pm at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 1965 Bee Creek Road, Branson, MO 65616. It will also be available on ZOOM.

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