Roy Edward Owens, 94 of Elkhorn City, KY passed away Wednesday, January 06, 2021 at his home. Roy is a retired Maintenance Superintendent for Clinchfield Railroad, was a US Army Veteran, a member of the Elkhorn City Methodist Church. Roy was born August 03, 1926 in Johnson City, TN to the late Cecil Owens & Metta McCown Owens. Roy was preceded in death by one son, Eddie Roy Owens. Roy is survived by his wife, Nora Lee Fields Owens; two sons, Richard (Shirley) Owens of Mosheim, TN & Scott (Angela) Owens of Richmond, KY; one daughter, Janie Owens Cantrell of Lexington, KY; five grandchildren, January Hasken, Grant Cantrell, Nicholas Owens, Katelyn Gentry & Alexandra Allouch; and three great-grandchildren, Noble Fews, Ella Cantrell & Owen Cantrell. Visitation will be from 6-8PM Friday, January 08, 2021 at the Bailey Funeral Home Chapel. Funeral services will be conducted Saturday, January 09, 2021 at 11AM at the Bailey Funeral Home Chapel with Tommy Taulbee officiating. Burial will follow at Johnson Memorial Park, Pikeville, KY. Military rites will be conducted by Elkhorn City DAV Chapter #140.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to the Elkhorn City Railroad Museum, PO Box 1052, Elkhorn City, KY 41522.
Roy, you were the greatest!!!
Roy was my fathers cousin, which didn’t amount to what it meant to call Roy my friend. We had a bond I find hard to explain and when I joined the military it became a mandatory trip to the mountains to see Roy and Nora Lee anytime I was home on leave. In 2006, I found myself walking through Fayette mall one day in Lexington, having just gotten back to the US. Military guys are always scanning for other military guys, looking for patches, pins, insignias, etc. usually to find a common ground or trash talk one another in a friendly rivalry fashion. When I saw a big red 1 hat in the distance, I did a double take to see an unmistakable stance. Hands folded behind his back, at a pace coming right to me. I headed right for him and before I could say a word Roy looks over his glasses and said. “I knew that was you I just couldn’t catch you.” Here was this man in his 80’s who spotted me before I spotted him. Some skills never leave a man. I will miss the stories, I do my best to retell them but nothing compares to the original. Roy was sharp every day that I knew him and I cannot put into words the respect I have for him.
In life we all experience honors of some level, a graduation or a promotion or a little victory. I’ve yet to have an honor or achievement that would top getting to know and love Roy Owens.
It is with a heavy heart and great sadness that I post this comment. I had the good fortune to meet Roy while doing a fence job for him a few years ago. Never in my nearly fifty years in the business have I met a kinder gentler person. Since that time we had several phone conversations during which I am certain we solved many of the world”s problems. A man of great wisdom and vision, Roy will be remembered for a lot of different reasons ,but mostly for just being Roy. Good-bye my friend!!!!!
One of the finest men I’ve ever known. I’ll miss our talks.
Roy worked with my dad, Elmer Lewis on the Clinchfield Railroad.