Michael Lee Owen

55 year old Michael Lee Owen of Smithville, long time business owner, died Monday morning at his residence from complications of Multiple Sclerosis. He was Assistant Manager to his father, Wendell Owen for the Grandpa Fair of the South in Alexandria for many years, and also of the Dairy Queen of Smithville until 1997; Owner and manager of Just a Hair Better Barber and Beauty Shop in Smithville; Master Barber; and a real estate agent with Center Hill Realty. He was appointed to the State of Tennessee Barber Board by Governor Lamar Alexander and was elected President of the Barber Board for the State of Tennessee. He was 1st runner up in the national platform hair cutting competition. Mike was named one of the 100 most outstanding musicians in the history of the DeKalb County High School Marching Band for the trumpet. He attended Middle Tennessee State University and Middle Tennessee Styling and Barber College. He was a rodeo calf roper, fisherman, hunter, and Harley Davidson rider, devoted husband and father. Owen was preceded in death by his parents, Juanita Armstrong Owen and Wendell Lee Owen. He is survived by his wife, Louise Williams-Owen; daughters, Holly Rena Owen and Ashley Nicole Owen; Granddaughter, Madison Grace Bogle all of Smithville; Sister-in-law and Brother-in-law, Geraldine and David Yoest of Statesville; Brother-in-law and Sister-in-law, Charles and Sylvia Williams of Roswell, Georgia; Brother-in-law, Gerald “Jerry” Williams of Atlanta, Georgia; Nieces and nephews, Jessica Yoest, Rena and husband Chad Seay, Charles and wife Jennifer Yoest, Lauren and husband Christopher Deese, Jaclyn Williams; Aunts and uncles, Mary Ruth Groom, Beulah Johnson, Delma and Jean Armstrong, Velma and Joe Turner, Robbie Owen, and Donna and Jim Sherrill, and many beloved cousins and second cousins also survive. The funeral service will be conducted Thursday at 2:00 p.m. at DeKalb Funeral Chapel. Phil Tollett and Bill Robertson will officiate and burial will follow in Jennings Cemetery in Statesville. Visitation with the family will be Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. and Thursday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Zone at Allen’s Chapel United Methodist Church, Lighthouse Christian Camp, DeKalb County High School Band, Northside Elementary School Library, or to the Speech Therapy Department of the DeKalb County School System, in memory of Mike. DeKalb Funeral Chapel in Smithville is in charge of the arrangements.