Max Randolph Owen

Funeral services for Randy Owen will be conducted on Friday, March 8, 2013 at 11:00 AM at the Elk City United Methodist Church in Elk City, OK. The Rev. Terry Koehn will be officiating. Masonic graveside services will follow at the Fairlawn Cemetery under the direction of the Martin Funeral Home of Elk City, Oklahoma. A memorial celebration will be held Sunday, March 10, 2013 from 2-4 pm at the Tulsa International Church of Christ, 5880 S. 129th East Avenue, Tulsa, OK. Max Randolph Owen was born to Max Haywood and Dolly Owen on December 7, 1937 in Muskogee, OK. "Rannie" as the family called him was the left hand of a pair of mirror twins. Tommy was his right hand from the very beginning. Randy and Tommy spent their school days in Muskogee participating in band as well as DeMolay and actively participating with the youth group at Trinity United Methodist Church. Randy and Tommy were also very involved with family and took an active role in helping their mother raise their younger brother Jim, as Max worked for the railroad and was on the road a great part of their young lives. The boys enjoyed the opportunity to join their dad on the train and Jim still loves to tell stories of these adventures. Randy graduated from Muskogee High School in 1956 and enlisted in the Navy that same year, spending the next 4 years stationed in Long Beach, CA at Camp Pendleton. After being discharged from the Navy in 1960 Randy continued his education at the University of Alabama, Birmingham graduating in 1962 with an Associate’s Degree in Radiological Technology. Randy came back to Oklahoma City to work and join his brother Tommy at Oklahoma City University to continue his education. While at OCU Randy met the love of his life Barbara Rowlan. Barbara and Randy were married on January 25, 1964. Shortly after they married they moved to Lubbock, Texas for a short stint, this is where Stephanie was born on their second wedding anniversary. In 1969 Randy and Barbara settled back in his hometown of Muskogee. Randy worked as an X-Ray technician at Muskogee Regional Hospital as well as the Veteran’s Administration in Muskogee. While in Muskogee Randy and Barbara also welcomed Shelly in 1969 and Gregory in 1972. The Owen family stayed in Muskogee until 1978 when they moved to Tulsa. Randy continued his career in X-Ray working for every hospital in Tulsa finally ending up at Saint Francis where he remained until he retired in 1994. Randy and Barbara have been blessed with 5 grandchildren and Randy enjoyed watching this generation of the family grow and mature into young adults. Randy's "right hand" Tom settled with his wife Nona in Irving, TX and they begin building their family with the addition of Rob in 1963. In late 1974 Tom was diagnosed with acute myelomomocytic leukemia. In early 1975 Tom and Randy were accepted into a ground breaking bone marrow transplant program at the Twins Research Center at the University of Washington in Seattle. Randy spent 2 months in Seattle with Tom to complete the full transplant. Initially, the transplant was deemed a success and Tom was in remission for several months. In early 1976 Tom's white count began to rise and he lost his battle with the disease. Regardless of the final outcome, Randy always referred to the transplant as a "miracle procedure" and considered himself blessed to have the opportunity to give his "right hand" a chance at life. Randy dedicated his life to serving others through his career in the medical field as well as in his private life. Randy was involved with the Masonic organization from a young age as a member of the DeMolay group in Muskogee during his teen years. Randy carried on the traditions and service of this group, as an honor to his dad's service, through the York Shrine organization in Muskogee. Randy was actively involved in the Masonic and Shrine organizations in Muskogee and Tulsa serving in the "Merry Makers" branch of the Akdar Shrine. Randy transformed into the clown Slick Stix to participate in the parade and circus activities of this branch for several years. Randy completed the 32nd degree level of Masonry and was an active member of the Mannford, Red Fork and Akdar lodges in Tulsa. The spiritual bond he forged with these brothers helped to carry him through some difficult times in the later years of his life. At any time Randy could pick up the phone and make a call and whatever his needs, the Shriner's in Tulsa would make it happen. This group was a great blessing in his life. Randy was preceded in death by his parents Max Haywood and Dolly Owen and his brother Thomas Owen. Randy is survived by his wife Barbara of Glenpool, his brother James Owen of Muskogee, his daughter Stephanie and husband Travis Barber of Glenpool, his daughter Michelle Owen of Silver Spring, MD, his son Max Gregory Owen and wife Sandy of Stratford, CT and 5 grandchildren, Sarah and Jennifer Barber of Glenpool and McKayla, Tiffany and Max W. Owen of Stratford, CT. Memorials in Randy’s name may be made to Special Olympics or Office of Deaconess Home Missioner UMC-General Board of Global Ministries Advance #982339, 475 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10115.