CHARLES CALLIS “CHARLIE” OWEN,
76, passed away March 7th at home.
Charlie was born on June 5, 1943 to John Thomas and Alma Duckett Owen in De Queen, Arkansas. Charlie was the baby of seven and was preceded in death by his parents and six siblings, Lavelle, Anita, J.T., Leroy, Dick and Kenny.
Charlie graduated from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville with an accounting degree in 1965 and earned a law degree from UA in 1968. Charlie was a Certified Public Accountant and was a tax lawyer for over 50 years.
Charlie was a director and shareholder of Gill Ragon Owen, P.A. and served as President of the firm from 2000-2014. In addition to practicing law, Charlie enjoyed teaching and has written and spoken nationally on tax planning, legal ethics and wealth preservation and was recognized on multiple occasions for his excellence as a public speaker by the AR Society of CPAs and was an eight-time recipient of the Arkansas Bar Association’s The Best of CLE. Charlie received the James McKenzie Professionalism Award in 2017, which recognized “sustained excellence through integrity, character and leadership to the profession and community which garners the highest honor to the legal profession.”
Charlie was an active member of St. James United Methodist Church and served on various committees including Stewardship and Community of Hope. He was also involved in the community and most recently served on the Board of Trustees of Pulaski Technical College Foundation.
In his early years, Charlie enjoyed playing golf at PVCC, duck hunting and fishing. He later became an excellent chef and enjoyed attending cooking classes with his wife and daughter. One of his favorite things was making tamales while listening to Johnny Cash. Charlie also loved the Razorbacks.
Left to cherish his memory are his wife of almost 18 years, Carolyn Dickinson Owen; his daughter, Andrea Nicole “Nikki” Hudsmith and her husband Scotte; his son Charles Callis Owen, Jr. and his wife Ella, and his precious grandsons, Tucker Owen Duggan and David Wilhelm Owen. Also surviving Charlie is his step-son, Dickinson Gates Smith, and a host of nieces and nephews. Charlie also enjoyed making memories with his in-laws, Carlice, Marilyn, Walt, DeeDee, Terry and the entire Dickinson family.
The family would like to thank Dr. Andrew Kumpuris for his excellent medical care of Charlie and to Theresa Carmichael at Lonnie’s Dream and her caregivers who pampered Charlie and made him feel special.
A celebration of Charlie’s life will be held at 10 a.m., Thursday, March 12, 2020 at St. James United Methodist Church, 321 Pleasant Valley Drive, Little Rock, Arkansas 72212 followed by a reception at the church. Memorials may be made to St. James United Methodist Church, Arkansas Foodbank or the American Heart Association. Arrangements are under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home, www.ruebelfuneralhome.com.