Mary Frank Owen (Plainview)

Mary Frank Day Owen Mary Frank Owen died peacefully on February 24, 2014, at her home after a brief illness. Services are under the direction of Kornerstone Funeral Directors. A private graveside service will be held on Friday morning, February 28, 2014, at Plainview Memorial Park. A public memorial service, officiated by Dr. Tim Marrow, will be held at First Baptist Church, Plainview, Texas, at 2:00 p.m., February 28, 2014. A visitation will follow in the church parlor. Mary Frank Day was born on June 13, 1928, to Judge Frank R. Day and Anne Hardesty Day in Plainview, Texas. She graduated from Plainview High School. She attended Wayland Baptist College, George Washington University in Washington, DC, and the University of Texas at Austin before graduating with degrees in English and French. She taught English at Plainview High School in the former Ash school building. On August 8, 1950, Mary Frank married Gene V. Owen. They had four children, ten grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren. Gene died in December 2006. Mary Frank was known for her sense of humor and her loving, generous heart. She was a faithful member of First Baptist Church in Plainview for more than 75 years where she taught children’s choir, Vacation Bible School, and Sunday School. She was also a faithful and joyful member of the FBC Sanctuary Choir for more than 60 years. Mary Frank loved music, and she was a strong supporter of the Plainview Symphony Orchestra and the Musical Arts Club. She worked diligently to make sure a small city in Texas had a thriving symphony orchestra, and she was a Plainview Symphony Orchestra Star Award recipient. She was a faithful member and past president of Chapter CZ of PEO, and a long-time member of the Plainview Delphin Club. She also loved playing the piano for many weddings and other events. Many will remember Mary Frank as the favorite substitute teacher at Plainview High School. She substituted at PHS beginning in 1966 and continued for many years where she loved and nurtured every student she met. She was always the teacher at heart. Best known as “Momo,” Mary Frank is survived by her children: Jeffre Owen and Larry Littleton of Dallas; Rudd and Julie Owen, and Ross and Jan Owen of Plainview; and Dayna Owen and Neil White of Colorado Springs, CO; her grandchildren: Nancey and Michael Hernandez, and Mary and Brian Progar of Dallas; Judd Littleton of Washington, DC and Abby Littleton of New York City, NY; Meredith and Trent Riddle, and Lauren and Clay Collier of Lubbock; Jordan and Jonathan Gower of Dallas; Sealey and Ross DeSoto of Pensacola, FL; and Aubrey White and Evan White of Colorado Springs; her great grandchildren: Molly and Elizabeth Progar; Brennon, Lincoln, Hogan, and Sutton Riddle; Ethan and Tristan Collier; and Will Gower. In addition, she is survived by her sister, Effie Jean Bay, of Houston, and numerous nieces and nephews. A special thanks to her loving caregivers, Jean Williams, Gloria Ferrer, Beverly Howard, Mary Petrosa, and Breanna Saldana. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Gene and Mary Frank Owen Endowed Scholarship at Wayland Baptist University, to First Baptist Church of Plainview, Texas, or to the Plainview Symphony Orchestra.