Childress – Mrs. Orval (Mabel Maroney) Owen, a woman whose devotion to her profession as a nurse in Childress, died in Childress General Hospital at 1:10 a.m. Tuesday, April 20, 1970, from an apparent heart attack she suffered shortly before getting off duty at 11 p.m. In her personal life, her love for people was one part of her desire to make life more lasting, as she nursed and cared for the sick in the hospital. She had worked in the Childress hospitals longer than any other person and was one of the first women to receive an L.V.N. degree. She began her career by working in the old Jeter-Townsend Hospital and had worked as a nurse for over 25 years. Mrs. Owen, age 58, was born June 16, 1912 in Lamar County, Texas. She came to Childress county as a child. On April 16, 1933, Mabel Maroney married Orval Owen at Tell, Texas. They lived in Carey before moving to Childress where they were presently making their home at 1607 Avenue E. Nw. Mrs. Owen led a very active life in that she was a member of the Carey Baptist Church, secretary of the Licensed Vocational Nurses Association. Chaplain of the V.F.W. Auxiliary and vice president of the American Legion Auxiliary. She is survived by her husband, Orval; two daughters, Mrs. Juanita Arrington of Jacksonville and Mrs. Joy Hawley of Post; one brother, Leroy Maroney of Yukon Oklahoma; three sisters, Mrs. Virgie Owen of Dimmitt, Mrs. Katherine Ioof of Amarillo and Mrs. Effie Owen of Childress; two grandchildren and many, many friends. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Thursday (today) in the First Baptist Church of Childress with officiant being Rev. Virgil Barnett, minister of the Carey Baptist, assisted by Rev. Joe S. Allen, pastor of the Childress First Baptist church. Burial was in the Childress Cemetery under the direction of Newberry Funeral Home. Pallbearers were Charlie Moore, Cloyce Holeman, Abra Howard, Leo Smith, Frank Mitchell and Howard Grimes. The Childress Index, April 22, 1971 (copy provided by Sydney Key)
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From her Texas certificate of death
Name: Mabel Owen
Death Date: 20 Apr 1971
Death Place: Childress General Hospital, Childress, Childress, Texas
Gender: Female
Race: White
Death Age: 58 years
Birth Date: 16 June 1912
Birthplace: Texas
Marital Status: Married
Father's Name: Miles Maroney
Mother's Name: Lena Rich
Occupation: Nurse
Place of Residence: 1607 Ave. E, N.W., Childress, Texas
Cemetery: Childress Cemetery
Burial Place: Childress, Texas
Burial Date: 22 Apr 1971
Informant: Orval Owen
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