OWENS, H.D. (Heavy)

Vining Funeral Home, Safford, Arizona H.D. "Heavy" Owens June 7, 2012 H.D. Owens or "Heavy" as he was known by all, age 83, of Safford and a Gila Valley businessman, passed away early Thursday morning, June 7, 2012, at the University Medical Center in Tucson. Funeral services for Heavy will be conducted Tuesday morning, June 12, 2012, at 10:00 a.m., at the Safford L.D.S. Stake Center by Bishop Clay Emery of the Safford Fifth Ward. Concluding services will follow in the Safford Cemetery. The family will receive friends Monday evening, June 11, 2012, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., at the Vining Funeral Home. ~~~~~~~~~~~ Eastern Arizona Courier, Safford, Arizona. Wednesday, June 13, 2012. H.D. "Heavy" Owens, age 83, died June 7, 2012, during a surgery at the University Medical Center in Tucson. Heavy was born June 1, 1929, the fifth and last child of Oance E. Owens and Mary Lenora Larsen. The family lived on a farm in Lone Star at that time. They sold the farm in 1937 and built a house in town. That house is now the Owens Properties office. His father and brother, Ralph, started Safford Builders Supply in 1938. Heavy was put to work there at age 9 doing janitorial chores and never left. He completed high school in three and a half years and graduated with the class of 1947. After two brief attempts at college, it couldn't hold Heavy's interest, so he returned to work at the lumberyard. In the spring of 1950, Heavy met Sally Birlenbach of Willcox, and they were married Jan. 21, 1951, in his parents' living room. In May of 1954, Randa Lee was born, and in June 1956, Shawna Lynn arrived. Heavy built his family home on Relation Street, completing it in 1960, and it is still the family home. In the early 1950s, Heavy and his father began developing subdivisions. The first was West Drive, due west from Firth Park. They went on to develop others. His father died in 1966, and Heavy continued to build and develop. In early 1952, the family bought a small ranch east of Safford as a hobby for his father. Heavy was forced to learn to cowboy. He enjoyed it, but the ranch was sold about six years later due to his father's poor health. Heavy became an officer in the Safford Elks Lodge, ending in his reign as exalted ruler in '66-'67. In the late ‘70s, he was part of a group of local businessmen called "Direction 2000" formed to promote economic development. In 1984, he was asked to be a director of a small local bank, which later became Stockmans. In 1970, he was named man of the year by the Chamber of Commerce because of his civic activities. He had an active role in building the clubhouse at the golf course. He and his building crew did much of the work on the Chamber of Commerce building, and his name is on a bronze plaque on the front of the building. After their father's death, Heavy and Marvin, his brother who was 12 years older, became partners in Safford Builders Supply. This worked well since Marvin managed the store, and Heavy built houses and created subdivisions. Heavy enjoyed a wide circle of friends. Many of them would stop in the office just to say, "Hi," and he was always pleased by this. Heavy is survived by his wife of 61-1/2 years, Sally; daughters Randa Lee and Keith McKinney, Shawna Lynn and Clyde Thatcher; grandchildren Kade McKinney, Dallas Thatcher, Kolt McKinney and Brooklyn Thatcher; also a sister, Lorraine Moyers; and a great-nephew and dear friend, Preston Owens. Funeral services for Heavy were conducted Tuesday morning, June 12, 2012, at 10 a.m. at the Safford LDS Stake Center by Bishop Clay Emery of the Safford Fifth Ward. Concluding services followed in the Safford Cemetery. The family suggests donations in Heavy's memory to the charity of the donor's choice. Online condolences may be offered at viningfuneralhome.com. Arrangements were entrusted to Vining Funeral Home.