Melvin Clifton Owens Jr.

Melvin Clifton Owens, Jr was born October 27, 1952 in Lubbock, Texas to Melvin C. Owens, Sr. and Ethel Jo Dozier Owens.  Melvin attended first through fifth grade at George R Bean Elementary in Lubbock, Texas. The family then moved to Spur where his mother was raised there he finished school graduating from Spur High School in 1971.  He surrendered to preach on April 24, 1968 at the age of 15 at FBC in Spur where Bro. Norris Taylor pastored at the time. Bro. Taylor let him preach his first sermon the following Sunday night service on May 1, 1968. His brother Jimmy said he remembered Bro. Taylor had to turn the sound down because Melvin got so loud. This was very unusual for Melvin. He usually took a mild tone except for the word of God. After this he began helping his grandmother Mrs. J.E. Dozier at the Spanish Mission which used to sit across East 6th Street from the Catholic Church.

After graduating high school, Melvin attended Wayland Baptist College where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in religion on May 17, 1975.

After college Melvin worked for Farmers Coop Gin in Spur and was pastor at Girard Baptist Church. Later he moved to Wichita Falls and worked at Shepherd AFB.

Melvin loved all his classmates so while living in Wichita Falls he began collecting 1971 Kennedy half dollars so that he might give each of his graduating classmates one on their tenth anniversary. But just when he lacked a few having enough a thief broke into his apartment and took all the coins he had gathered. Melvin said that was one of his greatest disappointments.

Melvin later moved back to Spur and worked in the meat market at Lawrence Brothers Grocery Store and was pastor at Temple Baptist Church in Spur.

Melvin married Shirley Roberts on June 26, 1992.  Melvin moved to King County in the Grow community in 1993 and worked for Walmart in Childress Texas for 20 years. He later became Associate Pastor where he still served at Midway Church which is halfway between Guthrie and Paducah. He was also a member of Midways Board of Trustees and served as treasurer.

Melvin was preceded in death by his parents and a brother and sister in law and their children, Billy Joe and Shirley Owens, Cheryl Lynn, Reginald Earl, Troy Lee and Delana Sue, nephew Kenneth Craig McCauley and sister in law, Judy Owens.

Survivors include sister, Charlotte McCauley and husband, Chris, brother, Jimmy Owens and wife, MaryAnne, sister, Mary Charo and husband, Rick, and lots of nephews, nieces, cousins and friends.

Funeral services will be held 2:00pm Friday May 6, 2022 at Midway Church in Guthrie ,TX ( 265 N. US Hwy 83)  followed by interment at the Spur Memorial Cemetery, Spur, TX, with Bro. Chris McCauley & Bro. Chuck Harrison officiating under the direction of Zapata Funeral Home.