Ella M. Owen, 77 of Rogersville, Missouri, passed away at her home on September 6, 2023, after a short illness. Ella was born in Fort Collins, Colorado, on June 5, 1946, to James Alfred Jones and Bertha Ella (Oster) Jones. At the age of 20, she met Jerry D. Owen at the South National Church of Christ in Springfield, Missouri, and they were married three months later on December 23, 1966, at the Marionville Church of Christ.

Ella was a graduate of Marionville High School and Draughon Business College. She worked as a bookkeeper, an office manager and an insurance claims adjuster for most of her career, retiring from the Principal Financial Group.

She was known by family and close friends as an excellent cook from a very early age. Ella loved all children…especially her four grandchildren…and made frequent charitable gifts to the Fair Haven Children’s Home in Strafford, Missouri.

She also loved to tend flowers. Her favorite flowers were peace roses and she collected irises from family and friends. Everyone who knew Ella knew that purple was her favorite color, as evidenced by her gardens, home decor and wardrobe.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her grandparents, Robert Lincoln Jones and Pearlie Jones, who raised her; a dear great aunt and uncle; several dear cousins; and two half-brothers.

Ella is survived by her husband of nearly 57 years, Jerry Owen; one son, Dan Owen and his wife, Shannon; four grandchildren: Carter, Clark, Caleigh and Carys; and many other family members and friends.

A closed-casket visitation will be held on Friday, September 8, 2023, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Greenlawn Funeral Home South, followed by a short graveside service on Saturday, September 9, 2023, at 3:00 at the Maplewood Cemetery in Harrison, Arkansas.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in her memory to the Fair Haven Children’s Home, 3132 N Fair Haven Loop, Strafford, MO 65757.