Gail Owenby

Gail Russell Owenby, age 63, passed away on Tuesday, August 26, 2014 at Mission Hospitals – Memorial Campus. A native and lifelong resident of Haywood County, she was the daughter of the late James Hubert and Delitha Elizabeth Franklin Russell. She was also preceded in death by four brothers, Tommy, James, Forrest, and Eugene Russell; and a sister, Lucy Smith. She was a member of Pisgah Freewill Baptist Church. Gail enjoyed spending time outdoors tending to her vegetable and flower gardens. She enjoyed the fruits of her labor by canning and one of her favorite hobbies was going to yard sales to find treasures for others. The light of her life were her precious grandchildren whom she adored. Gail always placed others before herself and will be remembered for being a wonderful, kind and loving wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. She is survived by her husband of 45 years, David L. Owenby; a daughter, Traci Owenby Henderson and her husband, Daryl, of Canton; a son, Michael Owenby of Canton; three sisters, Dorothy Justice, Ruby Hannah, and Janie Stevens and her husband, Guy, all of Canton; two grandchildren, Bailey and Tucker Henderson; two step-grandchildren, Gary Messer and Michael Cogburn; two step great-grandchildren, Cadence Cogburn and Abigail Messer; and many nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, August 29, 2014 at the Canton Chapel of Wells Funeral Home with Pastor Jake Cagle officiating. Burial will follow at Bethel Community Cemetery. The family will receive friends 12:00 noon until 2:00 p.m. prior to the service at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Pisgah Freewill Baptist Church, 110 Harley Creek Road, Canton, NC 28716.

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