Fon Edward Owings, 91, of Unionville, MO, passed from this life at the Putnam County Memorial Hospital in Unionville, MO, on February 3, 2021.
Fon “Doc” Owings was born in the West Liberty area of Putnam County, Missouri on June 26, 1929, to Roy and Grace (Smith) Owings. Fon graduated from the Unionville High School in 1947. He then enrolled in the University of Missouri School of Veterinary Medicine and graduated with the Class of 1955. During his time in Veterinary School, Fon met Norma Ricketts from Kansas and they were married on February 4, 1951. To this union five children were born, Teresa, Steven, Roger, Gerald and Rex (infant).
“Doc,” as he was known by most, and Norma served Unionville and the surrounding area with their private practice the Unionville Veterinary Clinic for 60+ years. Doc was a lifetime member of the Missouri Veterinary Medical Association; served on numerous committees of the Missouri Veterinary Association; was an honor roll member of the American Veterinary Association. He was “Veterinary in Charge” of the Putnam County Feeder Calf Sale from 1960-1990; the Unionville Livestock Market and the Unionville Sale Barn for a total of 55 years; and the Centerville Livestock Market in Centerville, IA, for 30 years.
Doc enjoyed being involved in the community and served as a member of the Unionville City Council; Mayor of Unionville for 2 terms in the 1970’s; member of the Unionville Country Club Board, member of the Board of Directors at Farmers Bank, Unionville, MO; Putnam County 4-H Beef Project Leader; avid supporter of the Putnam County Jr. Livestock Sale; member of the Putnam County Booster Club and member of the United Methodist Church of Unionville, MO.
Some of Doc’s awards and honors include the Farmers Friend Award; Putnam County Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Month; Grand Marshall of the Putnam County R-I Homecoming Parade; Putnam County R-I Elementary Character Education Award; honoree at the Missouri Livestock Symposium, Kirksville, MO and inducted into the UHS/PCR-I Academic Hall of Fame in 2015.
In Doc’s spare time he enjoyed watching his children show Horned Hereford’s at the Putnam County Fair, Missouri State Fair and the American Royal. He also loved watching his children and grandchildren at their athletic and school events. Later in life he also enjoyed golfing and playing cards. Doc passed on his love for animals to all his family.
Doc is survived by his daughter, Teresa (Lennis) Harbert of Unionville, MO; and sons, Steve (Vicki) Owings of St. Louis, MO; Roger (Terry) Owings and Gerald (Nancy) Owings of Unionville, MO. Surviving grandchildren include: Chad Ray and friend Melissa, St. Louis, MO; Cody (Jesslyn) Ray of Unionville, MO; Emily Young and friend Eric of Columbia, MO; Kyle (Caroline) Owings, Krysta Owings, Katherine Owings of St. Louis, MO; Kristian Owings, Chicago, IL; Dylan (Crystal) Owings of Springfield, MO; Jentrie (Steve) McDavid of Tampa, FL; Rande (Casey) Butler, Stillwater, OK, Nolan (Whitney) Owings of Albion, IL, and Dakoda Owings of Joplin, MO; along with 18 great-grandchildren. Also surviving are brother-in-law, Eugene (Karen) Ricketts of KS and sisters-in-law, Winona Solar and Gaye Dyke of TX, and a host of nieces and nephews.
Doc was preceded in death by his wife, Norma, on June 30, 2016; his parents; his in-laws, Roscoe and Ellen Ricketts; an infant son, Rex (1960); his siblings; Gladys, Robert, Kenneth, Hester, Roy Jr, Maxine, Ora Dean and Thomas.
A public visitation for Doc Owings will be at Playle & Collins Family Funeral Home in Unionville, MO, from 9:00 am until 4:00 pm on Thursday and Friday, February 11 & 12, 2021. The family will not be present due to Covid considerations. Private family services will follow at a later date. Interment will be at the Unionville Cemetery, Unionville, MO.
Memorials are suggested to the Putnam County Fair to support Fon’s favorite annual event, The Putnam County Fair’s “Baby Bottle Show.” Please mark “baby bottle show” in the memo of checks. Memorials may be entrusted with Playle & Collins Family Funeral Home, 709 S. 27th, Unionville, MO 63565.