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June 27, 1977 KC Star
Graveside services for Richard Gary Owens, 19, of 5409 Nall, Roeland Park, who died Sunday in a motorcycle-car accident near 47th Belleview, will be Tuesday at the Humansville, MO Cemetery. THe family suggests contributions to the music department at Kansas University. Mr. Owens was born in Lamar, MO and had lived here most of his life. He was a member of Westport Baptist Church. He was a student at Kansas Universisty. Mr. Owens leaves his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Owens, and a brother, Dennis Owens, all of the home, and his paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Rick Owens, Humansville.
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Daniel Davis
Gary was the finest high school musician that I have ever known. He could play any horn you handed him, from his instrument of choice, the euphonium, to his second hand valve trombone and pocket trumpet, he could play it and do it well. When the jazz band or pep band played 25 or 6 to 4, it was Gary playing the solo riff at the end. I had an extra ticket to the KC Philharmonic and asked Gary if he wanted to go. We got dressed up and our seats were next to two German Jewish sisters in their 70's who were very excited to hear the overture from The 3 Penny Opera that they remembered being at it's debut in 1928 Berlin. He was chosen after his senior year to play in a very prestigious concert band and he was going to KU on a music scholarship.
I was devastated when I learned, about a month later, of his death when I was home from college, so much so that I went to his house, knocked on the door, and stood there with my heart in my throat and tears in my eyes when his father answered the door. I barely croaked out that I was so sorry to learn of Gary's death and apologized for not being at the funeral and how much I would miss him. I shook Mr. Owen's hand and we stood at the door and cried before I turned and left.
I still miss Gary, his smile, his love of music, his white Mustang, his wild side...
Mike Rush
Gary was a great guy! We had tons of fun growing up together.