Thomas V. Owens

Thomas (Tommy) V. Owens, age 89, of Austin, Texas, entered his heavenly home peacefully on November 7, 2024.
Tommy was born in Brownfield Texas on December 9, 1934 to Delma and Clyde Owens. He is survived by his wife, Barbara Owens of Temple Texas, and three grandchildren: Christy, Jennifer, and Tiffany. He was preceded in death by his parents, his son Terry Owens, daughter Tammy Vaught, sister Faye Brooks, and brother Lynn Owens. He leaves behind five nephews, and an extended family of in-laws. It is a blessing to know Tommy will be reunited with his loved ones in God's Kingdom.
Tommy was always full of life. He loved the outdoors, whether it was going camping, fishing, or just cruising the lake in his boat. He once decided to go coastal fishing on his pontoon boat. The fishing was great, but he soon found out from the wind, tall waves, and rough conditions, that it was not a good idea. That pontoon boat never made it back to the coast after that trip.
Tommy also enjoyed spending time with close friends and family for barbecues, playing cards or dominoes. He took poker playing very seriously, and after every hand would show the table the cards he held, as well as the cards he drew, so we would all know exactly why he didn't win the hand. It gave us all a chuckle after every game to hear him say "this is what I held and this is what I drew." It was as though he was playing at the World Series Poker Championship game, and had to justify his win or his loss after every single hand. Sometimes the games would get so intense that we would forget we were barbecuing, and then it was a trip to the nearest restaurant for food.
Tommy loved to play the lottery, and would buy scratch off tickets every chance he got. It was really easy to buy his birthday and Christmas gifts, because it was always lottery tickets. And just like the rest of us, every time he won a decent amount of money, he would go right back in the store and trade it for more tickets.
One of Tommy's proudest accomplishments was the landscape company he founded, and worked at for over 23 years. During the busy season, Tommy would work 7 days a week, but you could tell he didn't mind it a bit. He absolutely loved his work. If he wasn't driving around in his landscape truck working, he was driving around his tractor at home, improving his own yard. Tommy enjoyed helping people who were down on their luck, and would often hire homeless people to help him at his landscape company. A few of them did very well, and he was so impressed with them, he rented an apartment to help get them off the street, and back on their feet.
It was on one of his landscape jobs that he met Barbara, his wife of 44 years. They married in 1980, and had many happy years together, traveling and seeing the world. Tommy loved to visit Las Vegas, which he referred to as "Lost Wages". They visited other casinos as well, in Louisiana, Oklahoma and New Mexico. He loved the thrill of the slot machines, hoping that the next spin would be his big win. He would also go to Possum Kingdom Lake for fishing and boating, and other lakes around the state. He would always invite family members to go along, and would happily pay their way if they couldn't afford it. He was very generous in that respect. He always wanted everyone to have a good time.
Tommy was loved and respected, and we will miss him dearly. Rest in peace Tommy, in the hearts and minds of those that love you.
A Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 12, 2024 at Harrell Funeral Home 4435 Frontier Trail Austin, TX 78745.
A Graveside Service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 12, 2024 at Fitzhugh Cemetery 11608 Crumley Ranch Road Austin, TX 78738.