Rev. Nancy L. Owens

1/8/2022

   Nancy Owens was born on September 24, 1945 in Dallas, Texas but grew up in West Monroe, Louisiana.  Nancy died in Shreveport, Louisiana after retiring from ministry because of a health issue that eventually took her life on January 8, 2022.  She is survived by her devoted husband, Rev. Ray Owens, Jr.; son, Benjamin Perkins and wife, Jenny, and their son, Will; daughter, Katie Glaeser and husband, John and their children, Aedan and Jonas; sisters, Melinda Baxter and Kay Philips and husband, Billy; brother, Jewel Pruett; step-son, Daniel Owens and wife Katie, and their children, Michael and Aiden; and several nieces and nephews.

Nancy earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Northeast Louisiana University, a Masters of Christian Education from New Orleans Baptist Seminary, and a Masters of Social Work from Southern University in New Orleans.  She was Licensed Clinical Social Worker working mostly with children and young adults.

          Nancy grew up as a Southern Baptist, but upon meeting future husband, Ray, she soon found herself sitting in Ray’s United Methodist Church and joined his church soon after their marriage on December 30, 2015.  It wasn’t long after that that Nancy found herself teaching Sunday school for children and later church youth.  Enjoying the opportunities offered by the UMC to women, Nancy soon began to preach on occasion until District Superintendent Rev. Bob Burgess found out.  Bob offered Nancy the opportunity to preach every week and off to Local Pastor’s School Nancy went.  Soon after completing her studies, Nancy was appointed to two churches in the Monroe District.  As husband, Ray, was moved, so too was Nancy.  In all, Nancy served four churches in her short Local Pastor career. 

          Nancy loved her time in the pulpit and loving on her parishioners.  And, by all accounts, she was loved in return.  She regretted having to retire and missed it tremendously but continued to read her Bible daily and write copious notes on her understanding and research.  It was her saddest day when Alzheimer’s took away her ability to read and study the Bible.