Doris J. Owens, 94 years old, died Tuesday night, September 1, 2026 in Boonville, Missouri. Cremation will take place with burial at the Veteran's Cemetery in Bloomfield, Missouri alongside her husband.

Doris Jean Holliday "Ding" was born November 13, 1931, near Speed, Missouri, the daughter of Arthur Lewis Holliday and Clara Margaret Schmidt. She graduated from Prairie Home High School in 1949.

She spent much of her early childhood near Speed but moved to Prairie Home with her parents as a teenager in the 1940s. As the 6th of 12 children there was never a dull moment and always work to be done around the house. Doris moved to St. Louis after graduation in search of work. There she met Warren Guy Owens, and they were married on September 27, 1952, in St. Louis. They lived at Pine Lawn until November of 1959 when they moved near Portage des Sioux in north-east St. Charles County making their home there for 33 years. Doris found work cleaning houses in the early years of her marriage, but as the family grew, she spent the majority of her time seeing to the home and her three sons. After Warren retired in 1990 they moved to St. Peters in 1992, then to Rolla in 1994, and finally to rural north-east Howell County near Pomona in March of 1996. Doris had lived in Boonville since March of 2026.

Gardening was Doris's passion. Everything from flowers to vegetables. She had roses adorned around her home and a large flower garden out in front of the house. She had two dedicated Strawberry beds around the back of the house and Warren with his fondness for Cannas, had a couple flower beds dedicated for them. Doris's vegetable garden was very large every year with everything from cucumbers, peas, tomatoes, pole beans, and peppers to cabbage, lettuce, onions, and a cherry tree planted along the fence. If she could can it, she would. She had enough green beans, tomatoes, and pickles to feed a small army. Her grandsons were particularly keen on the pickles, as it was not uncommon for them to go through an entire jar in one sitting. Doris also had a liking for spicy food. Particularly in the soups she made. Her "chili soup," split pea, navy bean (with homemade noodles), and a soup she called "Duke's Mixture" always had a bit of heat added to them whether it was jalapenos or something hotter. Warren always requested her buttermilk cornbread so he could throw it in his bowl to tone down the heat so he could eat it.

Although Doris was a very quiet and private person, she had a fierce love and commitment to her family. She would regularly bring her children up to visit her parents' farm. The sisters would often get together and go around to the local thrift stores. She lived long distances from her siblings after marrying and moving away, but it didn't stop her from calling them on the phone nearly every night particularly in her elder years. She looked forward to the family reunions every year. Coming from a family of twelve, it was always a large gathering, but there was never a lack of food or conversation. It was not difficult to make her laugh, and her laugh could put a smile on everyone in the room.

She is survived by her sons, Kenneth W. Owens and wife, Susan of Mount Horeb, WI, Terry D. Owens of Missouri, Ronald K. Owens and wife, Ruth of Prairie Home, MO; and six grandchildren, Curtis A. Owens of Davis, CA, Jessica L. Owens of Mount Horeb, WI, Brian D. Owens of Missouri, Ryan K. Owens of Columbia, MO, Ray A. Owens of Columbia, MO, and Riley G. Owens of Holts Summit, MO; two brothers, Sam Holliday and wife Bonnie and Roy Holliday and wife Pearl all of Boonville, MO; three sisters, Nancy Moser of Columbia, MO, Jane Friedrich and Joy Clingenpeel of Wooldridge, MO. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, three brothers Junior, Bill, and Charles, and three sisters Lois, Edna, and Rose.

Cremation took place with burial at the Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield, Missouri, alongside her husband, under the direction of Yarber Mortuary, Mountain View, Missouri. Condolences may be expressed at www.yarbermortuary.com.