Ruth "Joy" Hollie Owens

Ruth Joy Hollie Owens was born March 13, 1929 in Los Angeles, California to Dr. Joseph Theodore Hollie and Esther Faust Bailey Hollie. She was one of 3 children.  She had an older brother Theo Kay Hollie (deceased) and a younger sister Naomi June Hollie (Taylor) 

As a child she loved going with her family to Long Beach or Venice nearly every weekend.   She loved swimming, surfing, going to the Plunge, a saltwater pool by the ocean, both in Venice and Long Beach. She always got to invite a friend.  She remembers association with Olympic swimmer Johnny Weissmuller (aka Tarzan).  She even remembers him carrying her around on his shoulders when she was young.

Johnny Weissmuller later taught her how to dive.  When she was a teenager she was on a synchronized swim team with Esther Williams (a competitive swimmer and actress) at the Los Angeles Athletic Club.

Joy had a good friend Joanna Chlarson whose father lived in Show Low.  Joanna offered to let Joy come to Arizona and see real Native American Indians.  On that trip Joanna’s father took the girls to Ft. Apache to go to a dance.  While she was visiting the little town of Show Low she met Moylen Owens, who had recently returned from serving in WWII.   When Moylen heard she was a vegetarian, he thought it was some weird religion and that he should keep his distance from her. That distancing didn’t work out and soon they were married in the Mesa Arizona Temple on April 18, 1947. 

Joy was one of those women that could and did everything. She took automotive classes and rebuilt an engine on their 1968 Chevy Bel-Aire.  She also took upholstery classes, built and reupholstered furniture, took woodworking classes, built bookshelves and cabinets that she needed.  She took Medical Terminology and other medical classes. She always kept up to date on politics and Constitutional rights.  There was never a question about her opinion.  She was always more than willing to share.

Moylen and Joy owned and operated a small dairy and sold fresh raw milk. Joy took care of the milk & washed the glass bottles every day.  The boys had plenty of chores milking and feeding the cows as well as keeping the milkhouse clean where they milked.  In the early 60’s Moylen and Joy got a franchise for A&W Root Beer and built the building where Joy flipped many hamburgers.  The A&W was located on Main St. south of where Burger King is now located. They helped feed the workers at the paper mill in Snowflake by sending a food truck loaded with sandwiches and supplies from the A&W.   Moylen and Joy also started Country Lane MHP in the late 50’s which kept them very busy and is still a family business.

Joy seemed to always run a business from her home.  She used to sell church books but was always interested in health.  She started selling herbs, vitamins, and other health related products.   She helped many people regain their health with her wealth of knowledge, which is hard to rival, of herbs and the plants that God placed on this earth to help heal the sick. 

Moylen & Joy were blessed 8 children.  Daniel, David, Donald, Dennis, Carolyn, Linda, Richard (deceased) & Dustin (deceased)  She was able to have one home birth and wanted to offer that service to other mothers who wanted to have home deliveries.  She started delivering babies in 1977. She initiated the Midwifery program at Northland Pioneer College in the early 80’s.   She has attended over 400 deliveries and assisted in the sacred occasion of bringing new lives into this world.  At the age of 92, she delivered her great granddaughter which was her last delivery.

During the 50’s 60’s and 70’s the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sponsored a fundraising 4th of July rodeo in Show Low every year. This vegetarian was always found flipping hamburgers at the concession stand.  Two of her children were born on the 4th of July and one on the 5th of July.  Being in labor or just before giving birth didn’t stop her from the burger flipping.

She has lived in the same location in Show Low, Arizona for the past 78 years where she has attempted to keep the Show Low City government in compliance with the Constitution.

She has always had a love for the Savior and was found to live a Christ like life by helping those less fortunate.  

Her posterity includes 8 children, 45 grandchildren, 123 great grandchildren, and 21 great great grandchildren so far.

Due to the weather, a short Grave Dedication will be held for Joy on April 18, 2025 at 11 am at the Show Low, Arizona Cemetery in Show Low, Arizona with the Service and a Luncheon to follow at the LDS Downtown Chapel. All are welcome to attend. 

If you are not able to attend in person, below is a link to join via Zoom.

Joy Owens Gravside Service Zoom Link

Meeting ID: 733 5087 4112

Passcode: 069199

Below is a link to view a tribute video for Joy

Joy Owens Tribute Video

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