Alberta Jessie Owens

Alberta Jessie Owens, age 81, of Southwest City, Missouri, departed this life peacefully on Thursday, October 2, 2025, after a recent decline in health. She entered this life on July 30, 1944, in Webb City, Missouri, daughter of the late Henry Marvin Martin, Sr. and Clara (Williams) Martin. Her final moments were spent at Freeman Hospital West in Joplin, Missouri, surrounded by the love of her family.

Raised in the town of her birth, Alberta attended Webb City schools and blossomed into a kind-hearted individual who valued family above all else. On August 19, 1963, she married the love of her life, Lawrence Nelson Owens, and together they built a life rich in joy and shared purpose. Alberta dedicated herself to the role of homemaker, a vocation she embraced with grace and dedication. Her home in Southwest City, was always filled with the laughter of children and the aroma of her delicious cooking.

Alberta's life was one of unwavering commitment to her family. She is survived by her four children, Marsha Cooper and her husband, Kem, of Southwest City, Missouri; Mary Owens of Noel, Missouri; Leslie Owens of Southwest City, Missouri; and Michelle Bryant and her husband, Noah, also of Southwest City. Her legacy continues through her several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and one great-great-granddaughter, all of whom brought her immense joy. Alberta also leaves behind a sister-in-law, Vera Johnston of Joplin, Missouri; and a brother-in-law, Jack Owens of Granby, Missouri, along with a host of other family members and friends who will miss her dearly. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Lawrence, after fifty years of marriage; her son, Larry Owens; and her siblings, Henry, Marva, Mary, and Henrietta.

Alberta's interests were a reflection of her nurturing soul. She was a wonderful cook, whose recipes will be cherished and passed down through generations. Her love for crossword puzzles was matched only by her love for children, embodying the adage, "once a mother, always a mother." Alberta's faith was a cornerstone of her life, and she remained strong in her Baptist beliefs, finding comfort and guidance in her spirituality. Her memory will be cherished, her lessons remembered, and her presence sorely missed by all of those who loved her.

Graveside services are 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, October 7, 2025 at Saratoga Springs Cemetery near Southwest City, Missouri, with her grandson, Canaan Moore officiating. Those honoring her life by serving as pallbearers are Leslie Owens, Noah Bryant, Jose Luevano, Jonathan Diaz, Marvin Johnston and Canaan Moore with Jack Owens and Everett Cupp serving as honorary. The family will receive friends beginning at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday in the funeral home chapel. Arrangements are under the care of Ozark Funeral Home in Anderson, Missouri.