James Robert Owens

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Our beloved, husband, father, and grandfather James Robert Owens passed away at his home in Pahrump, Nevada on Oct. 22, 2014 from a lengthy battle with Melanoma cancer.
Jim was born on Aug. 14, 1934 at the Owens Ranch, Las Vegas, Nevada to Robert William Owens and Esther Balinda Bradley Owens.
He worked on his family ranch gathering and breaking wild horses on the Mountain Ranch near his home.
Jim was always community oriented. He volunteered for the Marines at the age of 17 and fought for his country in the Korean Conflict. After returning he spent 12 years as a fireman for Las Vegas city.
In 1970 he moved with his family to Ferron, Utah, where he worked on the family ranch. After spending a year in Canada working as a cattle ranch foreman, he moved back to Ferron.
In 1981 he was honored by The League of Utah Cities for his role as Volunteer Fire Chief of Ferron, a post he loved and served in for over 20 years. In that time he enjoyed bringing back Peach Days, horse racing, the demolition derby, rodeo and the parade, all that he loved to officiate for.
He worked for Western Coal Carriers where he served as president for his Local Union No. 6788, he retired from there.
He enjoyed fishing, camping, shooting guns, breaking and riding horses. But most of all he loved his family and spending time with them. Summers on the mountain and gathering wood with his grandsons.
He is preceded in death by his father, his mother, his brother David, and sister Atha.
Jim is survived by his loving and caring wife, Shirley, son; James Robert Owens Jr., daughter; Shella (Dave) Palmer, son; Robert L. (Charlotte), daughter; Joanie (Bill), daughter; Julie (Alan) McArthur, 19 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, sister-in-law Sharon, and his nieces and nephews.
A thank you to Shirley for driving Jim to all his appointments and a very special thank you to Glen and Barb whose friendship Jim cherished very much.
A memorial will be held in his honor November 1, 2014 at 6 p.m. at the Ferron City Rodeo Grounds.