LESTER EUGENE OWENS, SR

Lester Eugene “Gene" Owens, a lifelong resident of Middlesboro, Kentucky passed away on Wednesday, August 6, 2025 following a brief battle with cancer.  He was born on February 7, 1933 to William “Fate” Owens and Nettie (Tuttle) Owens.  He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy.  He retired from the Middlesboro School System after 39 years of service.  Gene was a member of East Cumberland Avenue Baptist Church.

Gene married Willie Jean Barnett on May 13, 1955.  He was a devoted husband and father and a good provider to Willie and their children.  Willie was always his number one priority, and it was evident even after her passing in 2015 as he went to the cemetery daily to maintain her gravesite.  Gene had a love for guns and had made stocks, forearms and various accessories for guns.  He was very talented and also made many curio cabinets for Willie’s Treasures.

Gene was preceded in death by his parents Fate and Nettie Owens, his wife Willie, his infant granddaughter Brittany Owens, his brothers Leonard Owens and James H. “Jim” Owens, and his sister Betty Lou Owens Moore.

He is survived by his daughters, Donna (Dale) Knight and Mary Standifer, his son, Lester E. “Boomer” (Kimberly) Owens, Jr., grandson, Chris (Sara) Knight, Dustin (Stacy) Knight, Brandon (Allison) Standifer, and Matthew Owens, great-granddaughter Sophie Ford and great-grandson Jase Standifer.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, August 8, 2025 at Green Hills Funeral Home.

Funeral services will be conducted by Rev. Richard Barnett and Rev. Harve Ledford at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, August 9, 2025 at Green Hills Funeral Home Chapel.  Music will be provided by the family.

Pallbearers will be Eddie Osban, Barry Barton, James “Peewee” Barnett, Larry “Gab” Barnett, Tim Barnett, and Lonnie Wilder.

Honorary pallbearers will be Darrel Brock and James Gray.

Green Hills Funeral Home, Middlesboro, is honored to serve the Owens Family.

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