Nancy Tickle Owen

Nancy “Granny” Tickle Owen, 86, passed away peacefully on Friday, August 15, 2025 at her home surrounded by her family. She was born and raised in Gibsonville and was the daughter of the late Howard and Hazel Tickle. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 67 years Clarence “Pop” Owen, Sr.

Nancy retired from Rego in Elon on the same day as her husband. She was a lifetime member of First Baptist Church of Gibsonville and served as a Sunday school teacher for the preschool class for many years. Granny had the tough job of holding down the fort, as she was the wife and mother of career firefighters for over 40 years, then became the wife of the Gibsonville Fire Department Chief.

Granny was known for her good southern cooking, especially her bombshell potato salad. As dementia took over her mind, we wish we could have taken the time to have written down her recipes since she cooked by taste and from the heart. Granny mostly stayed in the shadows because she was married to a man who was bigger than life, yet behind that man, she was the glue that held us all together. You never left her home without a belly full of food and love. As the Bette Midler song said, “She was the wind beneath our wings.” In all things she made everyone feel like they were the most important thing in the world.

As her mind and body deteriorated, she was still that “special Granny” that everyone wished they had. Nothing made her happier than to see everyone else being happy and loved. Granny might not be with us here at home anymore but we rest in knowing where she will spend eternity.

To cherish her memory are her children, Alvin Owen (Sheri) and Kathy Somers (Bryan); grandchildren, Jason Owen, Mitzi Gunn (Jamie) and Gary Owen (Ashley); great grandchildren, Edwin Gunn, Wesley Gunn, Caleb Owen, Jessalynn Owen, Avery Owen, Hanna Thompson, Jordann Thompson, Justin Thompson and Trinity Drewery; great great grandchildren, Lacey Gunn and Logan Drewery; siblings, Janie Bennett and Tommy Tickle (Janice); sisters-in-law, Polly Hart, Delia Owen and Becky Owen; plus a host of other family and friends; and several wonderful and compassionate caregivers. She also helped raise a ton of kids and foster children throughout the years. She was preceded in death by her husband, parents and siblings, William Howard Tickle, Jr. (Linda), Bobby Tickle (Linda), Betty Haithcock and Edna Haithcock (Basil).

The family would like to say a special “Thank You” to her caregivers and all the staff at AuthoraCare Collective.

A graveside service to celebrate her life will be held at 1:00 PM Monday, August 18, 2025 at Gibsonville City Cemetery by Pastor J.D. Weed. The family will receive friends following the graveside service and at other times at the home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Baptist Church of Gibsonville @ www.fbcgibsonville.org/give/.