Owen W. Paris, 96, of Lebanon, died Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2012, at Parkwood Health Care Center in Lebanon.
Owen was born Jan. 21, 1916, in Shelbyville, Ill., to Elmer and Essie (Muldoon) Paris. He graduated from Paxton High School in 1936.
Owen took a job milking cows in Chicago at a large dairy farm after graduating from high school. He then moved back to his family farm near Paxton, Ill. He married Maxine Tillotson on April 27, 1946, and they celebrated more than 65 years of marriage.
In 1952, Owen moved his family to western Boone County, just northeast of Shannondale, where he farmed until 1967. They then moved to Monticello, where he worked as a real estate agent. In 1972, Owen and Maxine moved to Ft. Myers, Fla., where they owned and operated the Empire Lounge Royal until they sold it in 1979. Owen and Maxine returned to Boone County in 1993.
He enjoyed reading, refinishing furniture, boating, listening to country music, and spending time with family. He was also a proud member of the Woodmen of the World.
Survivors include his wife; children, Lois (Don) Cope of Crawfordsville, Karen Sue (Douglas W.) Campbell of Lebanon and Sonny (Janet Summers) Paris of Lebanon; grandchildren, Bradley Cope, Laura (David) Shull, Linda Miller, Lisa Campbell and Lana (Tony) Nichols, all of Crawfordsville, and Brandon (Jamie) Cope of Seattle, Wash., Michelle (David) Nelson of Lebanon, Stephanie (Mark) Jones of Thorntown, Krista (Michael) Burtron of Lebanon, Jason (Crystal) Paris of Leesville, La., and Claire Paris of San Antonio, Texas; 26 great-grandchildren; and 13 great-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; an infant son and an infant daughter; brother, Loren Paris; and sisters Leota Lewis, Martha Waugh and Josephine Riggleman.
Visitation will be 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 12, in the Strawmyer and Drury Mortuary, 2400 N. Lebanon St., Lebanon. Services will be 1 p.m. Sunday at the mortuary. Mr. Paris will be laid to rest in the Union Church Cemetery in Fountain County.
Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.
Online condolences may be made at www.strawmyerdrury.com.
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