Mrs. Janetta Owens

Funeral services for Janetta Owens, 80, of Gladewater will be held 2 P.M. on Saturday, May 6, 2017 at First Baptist Church in Gladewater with Bro. Bailey Harris and Chaplain Michael Boudreaux officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be held at Gladewater Memorial Park.Services are under the direction of McWhorter Funeral Home in Gilmer. Janetta passed away peacefully surrounded by friends and her loving family on May 3, 2017. Her strong will to live, unwavering faith in God and the love and prayers of family and friends carried her through the past year of her illness. Janetta was born December 31, 1936 in Donaldson, Arkansas and was the eldest daughter of Lewis Jones and Marie Marsh Jones. Janetta attended and was a graduate of Gladewater High School Class of 1955. She married her childhood sweetheart James Owens in September 1955 and they shared a life of love and devotion for 49 years until his passing in 2004. She was an active member in the community where she served as Treasurer of the Gladewater Former Students Association. She was a long-time member of First Baptist Church of Gladewater where she served as a Sunday School teacher, sang in the choir, helped with baptisms, helped feed families during the loss of a loved one and helped during Vacation Bible School. She always enjoyed the fellowship with her Ladies Bible Study class. Janetta also served her community by delivering Meals on Wheels and always enjoyed the people she delivered meals to and could help. Janetta worked for 42 years for Southwestern Bell Telephone in Alabama, Longview and Tyler. She was very dedicated to her job and developed lasting friendships with her co-workers. Over her years of working there together her SWBT friends witnessed weddings and celebrated births of children and grandchildren. All the families grew up together. She continued to attend gatherings of her SWBT Retirees over the years and these longtime friends have always held a very special place in her heart. Janetta enjoyed reading, genealogy, crocheting and spending time with her family and especially her friends, Sue Taylor, Linda “Charlie” Mayberry and Pat Scott. She had a very giving spirit and was always willing to do anything for anyone. She directed weddings, organized a fundraiser, helped plan class and family reunions and was known to bake a cake or two to take to a friend or family member. Janetta was proceeded in death by her husband James Owens, parents Lewis and Marie Jones and brother Ed Jones. Left to cherish her memory are her daughter, Lisa Martin and husband Allan of Gladewater; grandsons, Aaron Martin and wife Jennifer of North Little Rock, Arkansas and Tyler Martin of Austin, Texas. Her sister, Paula Smith and husband James of Gladewater; 4 nieces, 6 great nephews, 1 great niece, 1 great-great nephew, and 2 great-great nieces. Please visit Janetta’s on-line registration book at www.mcwhorterfh.com to leave a memory for the family.

Mrs. Janetta Owens

December 31, 1936 - May 3, 2017