Reggie Derwin Owens

Funeral services celebrating the life of Reggie Derwin Owens, 80, of West Monroe, Louisiana, will be held at 10:30 A.M., Wednesday, August 14, 2024, at Cypress Baptist Church with Bro. Jeff May and Matt Owens officiating. The interment will follow immediately after at Cypress Baptist Church Cemetery, under the direction of Mulhearn Funeral Home. The visitation will be held from 4:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M., Tuesday, August 13, 2024, at Mulhearn Funeral Home of West Monroe.

Mr. Owens was born on June 19, 1944, in Monroe, Louisiana and passed away on August 10, 2024, in West Monroe, Louisiana.

Mr. Owens was a lifelong resident of Ouachita Parish. He was a civil commercial contractor for over forty-six years owning several companies like Owens Contracting Corp., R D Owens Construction, Inc., both Louisiana Licensed Highway, Street and Bridge and Heavy Construction. He was a lifelong breeder and rancher of top Bloodline Quarter Horses and Registered Cattle. Mr. Owens showed and competed with the best in Cutting horses traveling all over the United States. He was on the founding committee for the Ike Hamilton Expo Center, West Monroe. He produced World Class Cutting Horse shows and Competitors. Reggie was also the first to produce World Class Cutting Horse shows at the Monroe Civic Center Pavilion bringing Champion Horses and Competitors to the area. He also served on the Ouachita Parish Mosquito Abatement Board and was a Master Mason and member of the Cadeville Masonic Lodge #229. A member of the Louisiana Associated General Contractors, NFIB, and the West Monroe- West Ouachita Chamber of Commerce. Reggie was also a past Co-Owner of the Trenton Street Golf Course and began playing at age fifty and made his first hole in one at age 65. He was an avid supporter of the Learning and Outreach Center and believed in helping others. Mr. Owens was an avid reader who believed that “Knowledge is Power”. He would avidly read Caterpillar manuals and remembered every detail of heavy machinery, often challenging the staff of dealerships. He also strived to be the best by having the latest technologies and innovations. No challenge was too great when building a project for the LADOTD specs or any engineer designed project. He was very strong and competitive. He never quit until the task at hand was completed whether it was a job, horses, golf, or a game of rook. He loved antique tractors and farm shows and most of all his faithful companion, Bear the Bloodhound.

He was preceded in death by his parents George Hilton and Edna Ruth Owens; and niece, Ashley Andrus.

Those left to cherish his memory are his beloved wife of fifty-five years, Deborah Meredith Owens; sons, Matt Owens and Mark Owens (Danielle); granddaughter, Lauren Freeman Putnam (Chandler); sister, Georgia Owens Andrus (Percy); and niece, Amy Andrus McLaughlin (Michael).

The pallbearers will be Percy Andrus, Jason Costello, Joey Nugent, Chandler Putnam, Joey Riggin, Wayne Rutledge, Scotty Waggoner, and Kenny Womack.

The honorary pallbearers will be Danny Kane, Rick Meredith, Randall Murphy, Guy Owens, Steve Owens, Tom Owens, Wayne Patterson, Jerry Waggoner, Also the past and present employees of Owens Contracting Group and R D Owens Construction Inc., as well with friends at Lazenby and Associates.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Learning and Outreach Center at 7427 Cypress St. West Monroe, Louisiana 71291 or to Cypress Baptist Church at 161 Cypress Church Rd. West Monroe, Louisiana 71292.