Billy Lloyd Owens Jr.

Billy Lloyd Owens, Jr. passed away February 14, 2023, surrounded by his family at his son’s home in Heber. He was 70 years old. Billy was born April 29, 1952, in McNary to Billy Lloyd Owens, Sr. and Naoma Nadine Kelley Owens and was the second of five children.

Billy grew up in Overgaard, Arizona. His father worked in the logging industry and his mother was the postmaster in Overgaard for 38 years. His father instilled in him a love for the forest, hunting and fishing. Along with his father and his brother, Roger, they spent as much time in the woods as they could.

Billy developed many loves and talents throughout his life. A few of them were logging with Roger, hunting, fishing, cutting firewood, and carpentry, and late in his life he learned to bake beautiful pies which he would share with his friends and neighbors. He passed all this along to his family. Billy loved to fish, whether it was in the heat at Roosevelt or at the local lakes. If he was not in his boat, he was on shore with a pole in his hand.

Billy was always very responsible and a hard worker. Out of high school and in his early married life, he worked in the logwoods as a log cutter and crew leader. Later, he took a job at the paper mill in Snowflake, where he worked for 36 years. When the mill closed, he went to work at Northern Energy. After he retired and was getting bored, he spent time driving school bus for the Heber-Overgaard School District.

Billy met the love of his life at an early age. He met Darlene Petersen when they became neighbors as young children. They attended elementary school in Overgaard and high school in Snowflake, were high school sweethearts and were married June 16, 1972. They were sealed in the Mesa, Arizona Temple on June 16, 1980. They recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.

Billy and Darlene were the parents of four children, Myra (Frank) Parkinson, and Ross (Tiffani), Arlo (Jennifer) and Byron (Aunjani) Owens, 17 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Billy was preceded in death by his wife Darlene, father Billy Sr., mother Naoma, sister Sharon Williams, brother Kenneth Owens, father-in-law Drew Petersen, mother-in-law Marie and brother-in-law Mike Petersen.

Memorial services will be held Friday, February 24, 2023 at 10:30 A.M. at the Heber Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with a visitation beginning at 9 A.M. Burial will be directly after at the Heber cemetery. His family would like to express their gratitude for the many calls, texts, meals, prayers, thoughts, and visits during this difficult time.

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