Wayne Elmo “Moe” Owens was born January 9, 1947, in Stephenville, Texas, to Wayne and Ora (Griffin) Owens. He entered the gates of Heaven on December 2, 2024, at the age of 77 years old. He passed peacefully at home surrounded by his loving and adoring family after fighting a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. Wayne left Texas and moved to Lindsay, Oklahoma, at 17 years of age to work in the oilfield. That’s the time he moved in across the street from a young lady who became the “love of his life,” Carolyn Sue Scruggs. Wayne and Carolyn married August 13, 1966, and were married over 58 years. Two weeks after marriage, on September 11, 1966, he was drafted to the U.S. Army where he spent a year in Vietnam in the 70th Combat Engineers. He was honorably discharged on September 11, 1968. This is when he and Carolyn returned to Texas and started their family. This union brought them two daughters he adored, Alissa Shea and Stacy Lynn.
Once he returned to Texas, he became a surveyor and helped build Interstate 20. In 1971, they returned to Oklahoma and the oilfield, starting out in Ratliff City, Oklahoma, then moving to Foster, Oklahoma, in 1977. He worked for Carl’s Inc. as a pusher/supervisor for 19 years. Wayne was well known throughout the oilfield as “Moe” or “Mighty Moe.” In 1980, Moe established a business known as Moe’s Portable Steam Company doing oilfield steam cleaning. After 44 years the business is still ongoing. Moe was a very hard worker and provided well for his family.
Wayne’s hobbies were hunting and going to deer camp with his family and friends, barbecuing ribs and brisket, and making his special “Moe Beans” for any given reason or time. He enjoyed farming, watching his cattle and watching westerns— mainly “Gunsmoke.” He loved his family and enjoyed many vacations with them. He had a heart of gold, willing to help anyone in need.
He was blessed with three grandsons and took great pride in them and their accomplishments: Grant Coles, Jordan Coles and Brock Roady. Later in life he gained two more grandsons, Cory Miller and Nicholas Miller. 2024 saw the birth of his greatest joy of all, his first great-grandson, Owen Thomas Coles. His face would light up with a big smile when he saw Owen, even on his worst days.
Wayne was a member of First Baptist Church of Elmore City. He carried a cross in his pocket and would show it to others saying, “I have Jesus in my heart!”
Wayne is survived by his wife, Carolyn Owens; daughters, Alissa Miller and husband Russell of Foster, Oklahoma, Stacy Roady and husband Michael of Foster, Oklahoma, and a young man he took under his wing some 40 years ago who he loved and treated like a son, Johnny Walker and his wife, Alisha of Pernell, Oklahoma; grandchildren, Grant Coles and wife Kimberly of Overland Park, Kansas, Jordan Coles of Independence, Missouri, Brock Roady of Foster, Oklahoma, Cory Miller of Purcell, Oklahoma, Nicholas Miller and wife Lindsay of Purcell, Oklahoma, Hunter Walker and wife Tessa of Tussy, Oklahoma, Langston and Tracker Walker of Pernell, Oklahoma; great-grandchildren, Owen Coles, Bryson and Bentley Miller, Peyton, Paislee and Lucas Miller; a host of nieces and nephews he dearly loved; sister-in-law Mary Owens of Foster, Oklahoma; sister and brother-in-laws, Gail and Doyle Davis of Lindsay, Oklahoma, and Quala and Kenny Chism of Lindsay, Oklahoma.
Wayne is preceded in death by his parents, Wayne and Ora Eliza (Griffin) Owens; brothers, Lonnie Owens, Wayman Owens and wife Nancy; sisters, Jean Trice and husband Bob, and Flora Britt and husband John.
Wayne was the anchor of his family, and he will be greatly missed by many. Services for Wayne were held Friday, December 6, 2024, at 2 p.m. at Elmore City First Baptist Church in Elmore City, Oklahoma, with Mike Johnson and Rocky Keck officiating. Interment for Wayne was at Foster Cemetery in Foster, Oklahoma. Services were under the direction of Wooster Funeral Home.
