Earl Richey Owen Sr. went to be with his Lord and Savior on January 14, 2012 after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. He was born on November 23, 1927 in Whitewright, Texas. He graduated from Bells High School in 1945 and later served in the U.S. Army. In 1943, he met the love of his life, Shirley Howard in Bonham, Texas. They enjoyed many Saturday evenings on the Bonham Square. They were married in 1947.
Soon after they married, Earl and Shirley moved to Dallas and Earl began his career making seat covers. In 1952 he started Earl Owen Co. after working at various downtown upholstery shops. He started with one sewing machine, a table, and two parking spaces.
Earl’s special talent for customer service and natural business savvy propelled his fledgling business. When a customer needed seats covered the next day, Earl would go to the lot, take the seat out of the car, return it to his shop, cover it, take it back to the lot, bolt it down to the vehicle, and it would be ready for the fleet the next morning.
As the business grew, Earl became interested in selling auto accessories. Knowing that suppliers were reluctant to sell accessories directly to seat cover shops, Earl contacted the President of Maldevar Mats. After many conversations, Earl finally convinced him to supply rubber floor mats to Earl Owen Co.
He told Earl, “I will sell to you as long as you pay me when the mats are delivered to you.”
Earl agreed, kept his word, and showed other suppliers he could sell the merchandise and pay his bills on time. In 1988, Earl opened a second location in Sherman.
Today, Earl Owen Co. is the largest supplier of auto and truck accessories and equipment in the Southwestern United States. Earl Owen is a legend in the industry. He attended the SEMA show every year in Las Vegas. He was constantly stopped by people who were eager to learn about him and emulate his success.
Despite his achievements, he remained humble, kind, and loyal. His favorite hobby was work. He travelled at the urging of his wife. They enjoyed more than 20 cruises and went everywhere from Hawaii to Dubai.
He is preceded in death by his father Jessie Owen, his mother Laura Richey Owen; brother Jessie Owen Jr. and sister Fredna Meredith. He is survived by his wife Shirley, his son Earl Richey Owen Jr., and his wife Joyce, daughter Sheri Cherokee, daughter Lisa Batson and her husband Tom, sister Jo Bateman, brother Sonny Owen and brother Rusty Owen, grandchildren, Charity Styles, Earl Richey Owen III, Rebecca Owen, Blair Batson, and Erika Batson, great-grandchildren Jazmine Pratt, Zachary Styles, Reese Owen, and Riley Owen. He will be missed by many loving nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Monday, January 16, 2012 at Sparkman Hillcrest Funeral Home. Funeral service will be held 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at Preston Road Church of Christ 6409 Preston Rd. Dallas, TX. 75205. Donations can be made to Arms of Hope at 21300 State Hwy 16 North Medina, TX. 78055.