Benjamin Jay Owenby
October 11, 1948 ~ January 29, 2002
Resided in:
Fairview, NC
Asheville Butterfly TrailA native of Buncombe County, Mr. Owenby was a son of the late Pearleen May Freeman and Andy Claude Owenby, Sr. He was also preceded in death by a sister, Betty Barker who died in 1997 and two brothers, Andy Claude Owenby, Jr. who died in 1979 and Paul Freeman Owenby who died in 1971.
A Marine veteran of the Vietnam War, Mr. Owenby was a construction superintendent with American South Construction Company. He was a member of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church.
Survivors include one daughter, Gwendolyn Phillips of Mars Hill; one stepson, Tony Camby of Jacksonville, FL; three sisters, Dorothy Shoff of Reno, NV, Marilyn Ledford of Bent Creek and Diane Hendley of Fairview; one brother, George Owenby of Fairview and four grandchildren.
A funeral service will be conducted Saturday at 2:00 PM in the chapel of Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian on Long Shoals Road with Reverend Clarence Bishop officiating. Interment will follow in Hill-Conner Cemetery in Bat Cave, NC.
Pallbearers will be Scott Owenby, Jason Owenby, Justin Owenby, Jay Freeman, Tim McLaughlin and Doyle McLaughlin.
The family will receive friends Friday evening from 7:00 until 8:30 PM at the funeral home. At other times the family will be at the home of George & Beverly Owenby at 7 Owenby Ridge Road.
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I can’t believe the world has been without you for three years. I remember when Gwynn and I were so little and you were ‘Uncle Ben’. You were always a presence in our lives, and now we know why. I’m thankful everyday for the precious gift you gave to me and mom. Thank you for loving my girls as though they were your own, and thank you for loving me as if I were your own also. We miss you, Booger, everyday.
May you now be at peace and experience the Lord’s Healing Oil. We love you very much Papaw Ben and thank you for such wonderful memories!
I didnt know you personaly but we were related and I knew your stepson from school. I pray that God bless your Family and friends and give them the comfort that only you can provide. May they find the answers in Jesus and seek his guidence.
Thank you for the past 31 years.You were always there for me.But most of all thank you for the last 6 months. The holidays and my birthday were finally with the man I had loved all my life.I know you are with the LORD above and I know someday soon I will see you again.Thank you for the precious love you showed me.You will always be my only true love.
My thoughts and prayers are with Bens family! He and Larene both have always been very kind to me. May you all find comfort in our Lord, the one he has gone to be with.
Just a little note to tell the ones that was closest to his heart.
I have in my hands two boxes
Which god gave me to hold.
He said, ‘Put all your sorrows in the black box
And all your joys in the gold.’
I heeded his words,and in the two boxes
Both my joys and sorrowes i stored,
But though the gold became heavier each day
The black was as light as before.
With curiosity, I opened the black.
I wanted to find out why,
And i saw, in the base of the box, a hole
Which my sorrows had fallen out by.
I showed the hole to god, and mused,
‘I wonder where my sorrows could be.’
He smiled a gentle smile and said,
‘My child, they’re all here with me.’
I asked,’ god, why he gave me the boxes,
Why the gold, and the black with the hole?’
‘My child, the gold is for you to count your blessings,
The black is for you to let go.’
I’m still missing you, especially on Fridays…Thank you for the most WONDERFUL gift of all and for the memories. When I’m feeling sad and alone I close my eyes and think of all the wonderful memories we made. I remember your precious smile and how your eyes would light up when I finally showed up, late again. I always knew when you were near, even before I saw you…I could feel your love. Sometimes I feel that now. I remember the loving comfort of your strong arms and how safe you always made me feel. It’s hard to face life with you gone…you were always near by. Now all I can do is remember how life was with you here. I know if I hold you close in my heart you will always be with me. No one can ever take away the feelings we shared or my memories of you. I miss you today and the rest of my life. I know you are resting in God’s precious arms.
TF I KNEW
IF I KNEW IT WOULDBE THE LAST TIME THAT I’D SEE YOU FALL ASLEEP I WOULD TUCK YOU IN MORE TIGHTLY AND PREY THE LORD,YOU SOULTO KEEP. TF I KNEW IT WOULD BE THE LAST TIME THAT ISEE YOUWALK OUTTHE DOOR,I WOULDGIVE YOU A HUGAND KISSAND CALL YOU BACK FOR ONE MORE. IF I KNEW IT WOULD BE THE LAST TIME I’D HEAR YOUR VOICELIFTED UP IN PRAISE,I WOULD VIDEO TAPE EACH DAY AFTER DAY. IF I KNEW IT WOULD BE THE LAST TIME, I COULD SPARE AN EXTRA MINUTE TO STOPE AND SAY ‘I LOVE YOU.’ INSTESD OF ASSUMING YOU WOULD KNOW I DO. IF I KNEW IT WOULD BE THE LAST TIME I WOULD BE THERE TO SHARE YOUR DAY, WELL I’M SURE YOU’LL HAVE SO MANY MORE, SO I CAN LET JUST THIS ONE SLIP AWAY. FOR SURELY THER’S ALWAYS TOMORROW TO MAKE UP FOR AN OVERSIGHT, AND WE ALWAYS GET A SECOND CHANCE TO MAKE UP FOR AN OVERSIGHT,AND WE ALWAYS GET A SECOND CHANCE TO MAKE EVERYTHING JUST RIGHT. THER WILL ALWAYS BE ANOTHER DAY TO SAY ‘ I LOVE YOU’
AND CERTAINLY THERE’S ANOTHER CHANCE TO SAY OUR’ANYTHING I CAN DO’ BUT JUST IN CASE I MIGHT BE WRONG’ AND TODAYIS ALL I GET, I’D LIKE TO SAY HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU AND I HOPE WE NEVER FORGET. TOMORROW IS NOT PROMISED TO ANY ONE, YOUNG OR OLD ALIKE, AND TODAY MAY BE THE LAST CHANCE YOU GET TO HOLD YOUR LOVED ONE TIGHT SO IF YOU’RE WAITING FOR TOMORROW, WHY NOT DO IT TODAY? OR IF TOMORROW NEVERCOMES,YOU’LL SURELY REGRET THE DAY, THAT YOU DIDN’T TAKE THAT EXTRA TIME FOR A SMILE, A HUG,OR A KISS AND YOU WERE TOO BUSY TO GRANT SOMEONE,WHAT TURNED OUT TO BE THEIR ONE LAST WISH. SO HOLD YOUR LOVED ONES CLOSE TODAY, AND WHISPER IN THEIR EAR, TELL THEM HOW MUCH YOU LOVE THEM AND THAT YOU’LL ALWAYS HOLD THEM DEAR TAKE TIME TO ‘I’M SORRY,’ ‘PLEASE FORGIVE ME,’ ‘THANK YOU,’ OR ‘IT’S OKAY.’ AND IF TOMORROW NEVER COMES, YOU’LL HAVE NO REGRETS ABOUT TODAY. MY PREY ARE WITH ALL OF YOU FOR EVERY.
Well I have though about you in so many way being today your birthday.
8 years has passed and you are still in my life. I can’t seem to love anyone or maybe I can’t let go. I would enjoy having someone special in my life so I needed to tell you how I feel.We went thru alot of good and bad. I know in my heart you only loved one women and that was me. Your loving wife for so many years. You’ll aways be there in dreams and in my heart. Once again Happy Birthday . For you haven’t been forgotten. And I have forgiven you for all those lies. And not I can put all of this to rest. Your loving Ex Wife. LaRene Owenby
dear papaw as I know that you are in heaven I thought how wonderful it is to see God and praise him with your new and healty heart that makes you happy.But your glad is why you dont have to struggle with that bad heart but another thing is that you have a pure heart.All I wanted to say that you lighed my life up .And I was as close as possible to you I remeber when you grew a garden for you and me because you knew I LOVED tomatoes so you grew them for me and you would always say she eats them like an apple and then laugh and you would watch me ride my bike but still we even better times than that I wish you where still here so we could huge and kiss and be the person that Ive always dreamed of xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo. love your granddaughter always
Well its been a year and if you were here you would be sixty one years old. Wild it seams to be like yesterday we were and a party for you at the club on you 30th birthday boy time fly.Well i just would like you to know that i miss you so much. I dont wish you were here because you are here with me.I haven’t found anyone special that I would like to be with me for the rest of my life,haven’t gave up either.I know if there is someone you’ll let me know Haha Love you always. LaRene Owenby
Well it has been Eight years and it feel like yesterday.I think and talk about you to everyone and to the people that know you and some that remember. They cant beleive its been this long. I am sure you are missed by many and some that has forgotten.I dont get to asheville much. And you know I dont visit graves. We talked alot about dieing but never thought for a million years this would be the way it would end. I will alway try to talk to in some way. We all have our ways of letting go, but somehow it very hard to forget. I will keep you alive in our heart and in your son Tony and your grandchildred, Prescilla and Jackson. (LAKE KEOWEE)
We will share our thoughs and pictures with them always and forever. You would be so proud to know what a great son you raise and the one and only little girl that loved you so much is not so little anymore a lady I must add.Beautiful as her daddy and her Granny LOL I know you are Lol with us and alway. Look forward to the next time that you cross our mind and I reach out to say we love you always.From your loving family alway.LaRene, Tony and Prescilla and Jackson that is nine years old. I wanted you to know that Tony was saved in the spirit of god and one day we will all be together someday.WE Love you your family.