Donald E. Owsley

24 January 1999

Donald Edward Owsley, 68, of 1010 Breckenridge St., Owensboro, died Friday, Jan. 22, 1999, at Owensboro Mercy Health System. He was born in Owensboro, was a graduate of Western High School and retired in 1986 from Green River Steel as a stores clerk after 33 1/2 years. He was a 50-year member of Center Street Baptist Church, where he had served as treasurer and trustee and in the position of moderator. He was very involved with Masonic affiliations, including being the most worshipful grand master from 1994 to 1995 for the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge, F&AM of Kentucky, most excellent past grand high priest from 1974 to 1976 for the Most Excellent Grand Chapter Royal Arch Masons of Kentucky and was a right eminent past grand commander from 1978 to 1980.

He was an honorary grand inspector general, 33rd degree for the United Supreme Council, A.A.S.R. of Freemasonry, S.J., was a worthy past patron from 1968 to 1969 for Amaranth Chapter No. 46, O.E.S in Owensboro, was illustrious past potentate from 1968 to 1969 for Cawthar Temple No. 118, A.E.A. Order Nobles, Mystic Shrine in Evansville and was affiliated with the Damascus Temple No. 58, A.E.A.O.N.M. Shrine in Louisville. He was president of the American Association of Retired Persons Yellow Banks Chapter, was chairman of the board at Prince Hall Village Inc. in Louisville and was president of the Housing Complex in Frankfort. He was a member of the executive committee of Green River Area Development District Inc., where he was chairman of the Equal Opportunity Fair Housing Committee. He was a board member of Green River Housing Corp., Green River Economic Development Corp. and the H.L. Neblett Community Center Inc. He was a life member and past president of the board of directors for the Boulware Center, was past chairman and member of the board of commissioners for the Owensboro Human Relations Commission and was chairman and member of the board of directors for Audubon Area Community Services Inc. He was a board member for the Western Kentucky Development Corp., was past president of the Owensboro branch of the N.A.A.C.P. and was a charter member and past president of the Owensboro Area A. Phillip Randolph Institute. He served on the executive committee for Habitat for Humanity, was a hearing officer for the Owensboro Housing Authority and was an associate member of the Fraternal Order of Police. He was a member of the Daviess County Historical Society and Owensboro Friends of Library. He was a Kentucky Colonel and was Notary Public state-at-large. He was former secretary and treasurer for Roosevelt Houses I and II, was chairman of the board of trustees for the Owensboro-Daviess County Library and was a former member of the Urban County Charter Commission. He was vice president of United Steel Workers of America Local No. 4459, was secretary for United Way of Ohio Valley and was a former member of the advisory board for the Salvation Army. He was involved with West End Day Care, Kentucky Tomorrow and had served on the advisory council for Green River Area Ombudsman.

Survivors include his wife, Anetta Owsley; two sons, Keith Owsley of Owensboro and Whaylon Morton of Dallas; five daughters, Donna J. Buggs of Warrensville Heights, Ohio, Calrice Green of Hudson, Ohio, Cynthia Morton of Dallas, Donetta Owsley of Owensboro and Juanita Owsley-Brown of Cincinnati; 15 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; a brother, William Robert Owsley Sr. of Owensboro; two aunts; and several nephews and nieces.

Services are pending at Young's Funeral Home in Owensboro.