Mary Lois Cook Owen, affectionately known as MeMe, Sissy to her siblings and Aunt Sissy to her nieces and nephews, completed her race for the Lord September 6, 2026 peacefully in West, Tx at the age of 100.

Born in Walker County May 17,1926, Mary Lois attended the one room Crabbs Prairie school house before graduating from Huntsville High School in 1943.

After graduating she worked locally on the Huntsville square at Grand Leaders department store and the Avon Theatre before embarking on a 30 year career with Southwestern Bell/ AT&T in Dallas and Huntsville as a switchboard operator and later in the construction office.

A woman of devout Christian faith, Mary's love for gospel music led to her meeting John Ira Owen. They were married on June 25th, 1960 at her parents home in Crabbs Prairie and were married 27 years before John's passing in 1988.

Mary Lois had a passion for gospel music attending numerous gospel concerts and singing conventions across the United States throughout her life. The Florida Boys, Gaithers and Cathedrals were a few of her favorites. In addition Mary Lois enjoyed quilting but was most well known perhaps for her pride in her family history and heritage which led to her passion for Genealogy, local history and writing stories of her experiences, and community history.

After her retirement in 1985 she enjoyed continuing these hobbies and attending numerous high school football games cheering on her son's teams during his coaching career. Perhaps her biggest joy in life after retirement was being a Meme to her grandson Brackett.

Mary Lois was preceded in death by her husband John Ira Owen, parents John W. and Nona Cook, sister Ruby Thomas, brothers William "Sonny" Cook and Doyce Cook, sister in laws Betty Cook and Verla Cook, aunts May Bell Cook, Rena Wynn, Rhoda Stutts and Rebecca Moore and her favorite uncle Hubert "Buddy" Fails.

She was undoubtedly greeted by her grandpups Junior and Champ at the Rainbow Bridge.

Survivors include her son Tim Owen and wife Beckie of Mount Calm, grandson Brackett Owen and his mother Karen Owen of Garland, brother Kenneth Cook of Huntsville, step daughter Rita Owen of Pacifica, CA, and step grandson David Latorre of Itasca.

She was very proud of her nieces and nephews and is survived by nieces Virginia Swinney, Brenda Price, Lynne Voskamp and Pat Farnholtz as well as nephews James E. Thomas III, Mark Thomas, John Wayne Cook, Dusty Cook and Lance Cook. She is also survived by special cousin Carolyn Gideon as well as her grandpups who she adored, Lexi and Edgar.

Her nephews and grandson will serve as pallbearers.

Services will be held Saturday, September 12th at Cook Springs Baptist Church in Huntsville at 2:00 p.m. with the Rev. Roy Gafford officiating. The family will receive friends prior to the service at 1:00 p.m. Burial to follow at Harmony Cemetery.

The family would like to give a special thanks to staff at Rest West Haven in West for providing amazing care for Mary Lois the past 3 1⁄2 years.