Robert Laney Owen

Robert Laney "Bobby" Owen, 79, of Abilene passed away July 5, 2009. Services will be held at The Hamil Family Funeral Home Chapel, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road in Abilene, Texas at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 8th. Viewing will be at the funeral home from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on July 7th. The committal service will be at Rest Lawn Memorial Park in Hereford, Texas at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 9th, with a celebration of Bobby's life to follow at the Hereford Senior Citizen Center at 2:30 p.m. Bobby was born in Hereford, Texas, May 31, 1930, to Gleaves and Donnie Owen. He married Bettye K. Hodges on April 17, 1949. Bobby was a partner in Summerfield Fertilizer and Owl Feed Yard. He was an active member of Kiwanis and Fellowship of Believers, and served on the hospital board and the board of directors of Cattle Town Feed Yard. In 1980 Bobby was named Layman of The Year for Texas-Oklahoma Kiwanis International. In 1984 he was Hereford's Citizen of the Year. In 2004 Bobby and Bettye moved to Abilene. There they have become involved in the community at Wesley Court, Wylie Baptist Church and friends of Ben Richey Boys Ranch. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, Gwynne, GP and John David Owen; sister, Jewell Hargrave; and granddaughter, Jamie Eatherly. He is survived by his wife, Bettye; four daughters, Becky Bourland and husband Aaron of Lubbock, TX, Barbara Eatherly and husband Carey of Paris, TX, Brenda Harrison and husband Scott of Cleburne, TX, and Beth Haschke and husband Richie of Arlington, TX; grandchildren, Kyle Bourland and wife Jamie, Nicole Bourland, Ryan Eatherly, Hal, Hunter and Hogan Harrison, and Laney, Hayden and Keaton Haschke; and great-granddaughters, Brooklyn and Payton Bourland. His four surviving brothers are Jack Owen and wife Helen of Carrollton, MO, Warren Owen and wife Mattie of Hereford, TX, Lawrence Owen of Morris, MN and Homer Owen and wife Ruby of Waco, TX, as well as, a sister, Anna Jo Wilson of Franklin, TN and sisters-in-law Ruth Owen of Cedar Creek Lake, TX and Jean Owen of Corsicana, TX. He is also survived by a host of nieces, nephew, cousins and friends. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to Ben Richey Boys Ranch, PO Box 6839, Abilene, TX 79608, or a charity of your choice.