Lt Owens

Lt Colonel John Mark Owens, U.S. Marine Corps, Retired, age 61, of Gulfport, passed away on October 28, 2019.
He is survived by his wife, Tammy S. Owens of Gulfport, MS; a son, John "Alex" Owens of Mobile, AL; a daughter, Amy (Kevin) Crozier of Hermitage, TN; his father, Dr. John (Jane) Owens of Starkville, MS; his mother: Priscilla Owens of Mobile, AL; a brother, Jeffrey (Anne) Owens of Houston, TX; 3 step-sons, Matthew (Kara) Smith of Long Beach, MS, Jonathan Smith of Gulfport, MS, and Brian Smith of Gulfport, MS; 2 nieces: Katie and Caroline Owens Of Houston TX; and his best friend, David (Georgia) Lindley of Starkville, MS.
Lt Colonel Owens was born August 27, 1958, Edenton, North Carolina and was a graduate of Starkville High School and Mississippi State University where he earned a Bachelors Degree in Civil Engineering.  While attending college, he was a reserve patrolman for Starkville Police Department. He later earned a Masters Degree in Strategic Studies from the US Army War College, and was a graduate from the Joint Forces Staff College in Norfolk, VA.
Lt Colonel Owens served 26.5 years in the U.S. Marine Corps and retired in 2007.  His MOS's include Artillery Officer, Nuclear Weapons Assembly Officer, Parachute Officer, and Joint Services Officer. He commanded many units while in the Corps including Nuclear Ordnance Platoon 85-A, Delta Battery 2/10, 2d Air and Naval Gunfire Liaison Co. (Battalion Level Command) and the Marine Detachment and Marine Corps Representative for Special Operations at Fort Bragg, NC. He commanded 2d ANGLICO during the Iraq Invasion in 2003 and led his Marines in combat from Kuwait to Baghdad. His decorations include the Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with 3 stars, Army Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon and many others. His love for the Corps reflected in everything he was and did. He was a Marine through and through.
After his retirement, he took command of the MCJROTC program at Gulfport High School as the Senior Marine Instructor. He enjoyed training and molding young adults through classroom instruction in preparation for a military career, a college career or whatever they decided to do.  In his early years at the high school, Colonel Owens trained and competed with the drill team cadets and won many competitions. He then went on to training and coaching the rifle team, which lead to winning many National Competitions, State Competitions and Civilian Marksmanship Competitions over the years.
Although the Marine Corps was his first love, Tammy is second (lol)!  He enjoyed visiting with family and many hobbies which included civil war reenactments, reading military books, watching military programs, military research and going to the movies.  He was an awesome man with so much to teach and share. He will be sadly missed by all who knew him.
Semper Fi! (Always Faithful)
Visitation will be on Sunday, November 3, 2019, from 4 - 6 pm at the RIEMANN FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, 11280 Three Rivers Road, Gulfport.  The funeral service will be held at 10:30 am Monday, November 4, 2019, at Westminster Presbyterian Church 5005 Lawson Avenue, Gulfport, MS.  A procession will leave the funeral home at 10:15 am Tuesday for interment at the Biloxi National Cemetery where full honors will be rendered at 11 am.
In leu of flowers donations may be made to the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation, 18900 Jefferson Davis Highway, Triangle, VA 22172 which supports the National Museum of the Marine Corps.
An online guestbook may be signed and condolences offered at www.riemannfamily.com