Obituary of Jessie "Butchie" James Owens

Sunrise- October 13, 1948 Sunset- April 16, 2020 Jessie James “Butchie” Owens entered into eternal rest on Thursday April 16, 2020. Jessie was born on October 13, 1948 in Passaic, New Jersey to the late Phillip and Daisy L. Owens. Jessie James “Butchie” Owens was educated in the Paterson, New Jersey Public School System. He attended public school 4, 28, and John F. Kennedy High School. Jessie worked for a short while at Supreme Pants Co. in Garfield, NJ. along with his mom and siblings before being drafted to the US Army where he served in the Vietnam War and received several medals: National Defense Service Medal; Marksman Badge (M-14); Vietnam Service Medal; Vietnam Campaign Medal and later was discharged with Honors. Jessie was proud to be a Veteran. As a teenager, Jessie had the opportunity to be a part of the Paterson Ambassadors Marching Band. He also had a love for music in which he was a member of a local music group called the Pinchoms along with his brothers Willie (Chilly), Frank (Dennis). Jessie favorite pastimes were watching some of his all time favorite TV shows, “The Greatest Story Ever Told” The Ten Commendents , The Steve Harvey Show, Family Feud, The Five Heart Beats, The Temptations, All About the Benjamins, Sanford and Son, along with his favorite sports teams the NY Yankees, NY Knicks, and NY Giants. His favorite interests were reading the Bible, going to the race tracks, playing the lottery, (scratch offs), playing & hosting card games with family and friends. He loved trips to the Altantic City casinos, playing bingo in (CT, NJ) on bus rides with Betty Green, and the late-Mamie Dupree where he loves to hang out with Lomer Hunter, friends and family. Jessie was a very giving a big hearted person and was loved by everyone he encountered including friends, family and even strangers. His great personality would light up the room. He was just a likable person and everyone truly loved him and he loved them too. He has that gift, a good guy, he loved his family and friends. Jessie loved good down home cooking. He loved spending time with family and friends. He loved calling and talking to his little “Sis” everyday to say, “hello Sis” and always left with an I love you. Even when his health started to fail, he never would complain about his health only to say I’m still here “Sis” by the grace of God, I’m still holding on. He truly will be missed by everyone. Jessie “Butchie” was preceded in death by his parents; Phillip and Daisy L. Owens; four sisters, Anna “PeeWee” Anderson, Lauren “Dale” Owens, Arlene Owens-Sessions and Gearlean “Sheila” Owens-Dawson; two brothers, Frank (Dennis) Owens andWillie (“Chilly”) Anderson; his favorite Aunt Louise (Clyde) Colmen, Pearlie Turner, and Mr Bryant aka Mr. “B”, Jessie leaves to cherish his loving memory; his one sister, Patricia Owens-Phelps; his brother in law, Girvish Maurice Phelps; one brother, Lewis Robert Anderson; his son Antoine (Tomarra) Watkins; his grandchildren, Nicholus, Nakai, Navion Watkins of South Jersey; cousin, Emogene “Sherry” McKenzie of Newark NJ; “Special Friends”, Lomer Hunter of Paterson NJ, Roslind Smith of South Jersey, Jerry & Steward “Stewie” Schwartz of Passaic, NJ and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, uncles, family and friends. Funeral Services will be held privately at the convenience of the family. Written condolences can be sent to the family through the funeral home website at www.padgettfuneralhomes.com.