Rachel Ophelia Beaty Owen (age 98), beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother went home to be with her Lord on December 11, 2021, in Nashville, surrounded by her loving family. She was born in Haywood County on October 11, 1923, the daughter of Lida Belle and Frank Hill Beaty. Rachel and her husband, the late Wade T. Owen, were married for fifty-five years. Together they owned and operated the Stanton Telephone Company as a family business for many years, and “Miss Rachel” was well known in the community for handling the switchboard. Later she was also known in the region for her numerous years of service as postmistress of the Stanton Post Office. She was deeply committed to the town of Stanton and to Haywood County agriculture having won awards for soil conservation. A gifted storyteller, she was beloved by her family and many friends. Mrs. Owen was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, and her sister, Dorothy Daniel. She is survived by her sons, Gene (Georgia) Owen of Mt. Juliet TN and William “Bill” (Jeanie) Owen of Nashville TN. Other survivors include her four grandchildren: William “Tray” (Amy) Owen, Mark (Linh) Owen, Michael Owen, and Jennifer (Chad) Pearman, and her six great-grandchildren: James, Christopher, and Lane Owen and Camille, Carson, and Corinne Pearman, all of Nashville TN, in addition to step-great-grandson, Terry Tran. She is also survived by her first cousin, Myrna Bourne of Stanton, nieces Anne Dale of Social Circle GA. and BJ Ward of Clover SC, nephew Charles Daniel of Pocahontas, AR as well as special friends Johnny Woods, Gerald Jr. and Dana Woods of Stanton, Cindy Brasfield of Stanton, Perry and Celi LePere of Inlet Beach FL and Walt and Tracey Everhart, purchasers of her home of over 50 years in Stanton. She was a member of the Stanton Church of Christ. A private graveside service was held at the Stanton cemetery with her grandchildren and great grandchildren serving as pallbearers. All arrangements and services are under the direction of Lea & Simmons Funeral Home, Brownsville, TN.
