Owen Elmer, 87, of Springfield, MO and Omaha, AR went to heaven July 12, 2023.   He was born at home in Omaha, AR on August 2, 1935.  Owen served as Fire Chief at School of the Ozarks Point Lookout, MO and graduated High School in May of 1953.  Following High School, he served in the US Navy from 1953-1956.  He then went to work at Caterpillar in Joliet, IL.  It was there he met Louise on a blind date, and they married on August 30, 1958.  After Caterpillar he worked as a field service engineer at NCR for 27 years, moving to Springfield, MO in 1966.  While working full time at NCR he would go to the farm in Omaha, AR on Saturdays to clear land and take care of the cattle.  Vacations from work at NCR were time to cut, rake and bale hay at the farm.  He still managed to coach Rick and Brent’s Kiwanis baseball team for a winning season.  After he retired from NCR he added raising chickens for Tyson and was Grower of the Year more than once.  He has been a faithful member of Grace Church of the Nazarene in Springfield, MO since 1976.

Owen was preceded in death by his wife Louise, parents Hayes and Ethel Elmer, brothers Esco and Blaine Elmer, sisters Lois Anderson, Lessie Speed, Vivian Crowder and Colene Croft.  Grandson Ethan Elliott Elmer.

He is survived by his sister Gussie (Floyd) Redfearn Bois D’Arc, MO; brother-in-law Dr. Bill (Dr. Carol) Summers Joliet, IL, sister-in-law Janet (Bob) Surges New Lenox, IL; children Dr. Cindy (Rev. Rodney) Durr, Edwardsville, IL, Dr. Rick (Michelle) Elmer Battlefield, MO, Dr. Brent (Wendy) Elmer St. Charles, MO and Dr. Lynn (Darren) Allison Branson, MO.  Papa O is survived by 10 grandchildren.  Megan (Brady) Fox, Nixa, MO, Blake (Diana) Elmer Kansas City, MO, Matthew Allison, Springfield, MO, Erica Elmer, St. Charles, MO, Kaitlyn Elmer, Fayetteville, AR, Michael (Maggie) Allison, Kansas City, MO, Jonathan Durr, Edwardsville, IL, Rose Durr, Elwood, IL, Catherine Durr, Edwardsville, IL and Luke Allison, Branson, MO.  Owen is also survived by numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM, Saturday, July 15, 2023 at the New Hope Baptist Church in Omaha, Arkansas with Pastor Scott Crawford officiating.  Burial will follow in the New Hope Cemetery under the direction of Greenlawn Funeral Home in Branson.

Visitation will be from 10:00 AM until service time at 11:00 AM at the church.