Clifton (Cliff) Owens, age 73, went to be with the Lord on Monday, July 19, 2010 as the result of an automobile collision. He was born April 1, 1937 in Prater, VA and lived there until 1955. He attended McCord’s Business College in Bluefield, VA from 1955 – 1957, after which he returned home to marry his high school sweetheart, June O’Quinn. They lived in Bristol, TN from 1957 until the present.

Clifton is preceded in death by his parents, Andy J. and Nancy Jane Owens, his 6 brothers Venoy, Gay, Lonzy, Dewey, Henderson, and Milton Owens, and one sister Oma Sykes.

He is survived by his wife June; his daughter, Sandra Price and her husband Matthew; his two grandchildren, Madison and Mary Anne Price, who were the sunshine of his life; one sister, Ocie Pfau and her husband Otha; sisters-in-law, Loretta Lafferty and Evelyn Owens; brothers-in-law, Ray Lafferty and Tivis O’Quinn; and several nieces and nephews.

Throughout his walk with the Lord, he served as an ordained deacon, Sunday School teacher, quartet member, and bass singer in the church choir. Cliff was a silent prayer warrior whose desire was that many of his friends and acquaintances would come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Clifton had a long, successful career, beginning with a salesman position at Sears & Roebuck, before moving into accounting with Farnsworth Heating and then Bristol Lincoln / Mercury. He ended his career as Maintenance Clerk at Beechum Pharmaceuticals known today as King Pharmaceuticals, a position he held from 1981 until retirement.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given for the parking lot paving project at the First Baptist Church of Blountville, P.O. Box 587, Blountville, TN 37617.

Cliff’s celebration of life service will be conducted at 2:00 p.m., Sunday July 25, 2010 at Glenwood Cemetery Mausoleum with Dr. Clay Austin officiating. The family will receive friends immediately following the service. Honorary pall bearers will be Phil Price, Jonathan Price, Bobby Lafferty, Ben Lafferty, Ryan O’Quinn, George Potter, Bill Harness and Bob Gose.

Email condolences may be sent to the family at akardfh@akardfuneralhome.com