Carol Owens

Carol LaJune Owens passed away December 24, 2024. She is preceded in death by her father John Wesley Cantrell, her brother Ronald Cantrell, and her son, Adam Rockwell Owens. She is survived by her mother, Ona Vee Cantrell, aunts Ova Lee Peeples and Marjorie Glenn, sister Debbie Bammerlin, daughter Mila Foster (Joe Foster), stepson Byron Cole Owens, grandsons James Tyler (Destin Brock) and David Owen Emerson (Brelyn Emerson), great granddaughter Aria Grace Emerson, nephews John and Daniel Bammerlin, David Cantrell (Tasha Cantrell), niece Kelly Aguirre (Alex Aguirre), and multiple great nieces and nephews.

She was a longtime member of The Cathedral Church of the Advent. Carol enjoyed all services The Advent offered, but was, particularly, fond of Communion Services. She always appreciated that The Advent offered multiple times of services, as her work schedule made it difficult, at times, to attend traditionally timed services.

Carol graduated from TR Miller High School in 1971. She went to the University of Alabama after graduation and marched in the Million Dollar Band (trumpet). During the symphonic season, she played French Horn. 

Subsequently, Carol enrolled in the nursing program at Carraway Methodist Medical Center. She graduated in 1975 with a diploma in nursing. Carol made a career as a Registered Nurse. She worked in cardiac, emergency, burns/trauma, med/surg, and ICU throughout her career. She enjoyed caring for pediatric as well as adult patients. She illustrated and wrote a manual about congenital heart defects called, "Babes".

Carol was a talented artist. She mastered graphite, watercolor, carving, and oil painting. She loved music and language. She loved animals and, even, had a hedgehog as a pet for her daughter and son as they grew up. His name was Pokey. She even gave it bubble baths. She had an eclectic style and always danced to the beat of her own drummer.

She was extremely neat and organized and, often, joked that her sister, Debbie, was the opposite! She loved her family, intensely, and had a gentle way toward others that can't be described.

Carol adored her grandsons and great granddaughter. She was the grandmother that got in the floor with all the children to color or would, gladly, build blanket forts. She was the grandmother who made sure the children had an extra night light "just in case, so they don't get scared". She was the mom who sent daily jokes to her daughter to make "sure she smiles" after her daughter's lifelong best friend died of cancer. She was a great mom and grandmother.

She had the heart of a child, the intelligence of a genius, and the madness of an artist.

She always tried to see the best in every person and in every situation. She will be, greatly, missed.