Jacquelyn “Jacque” Hope Stone Owens

May 22, 2024

Jacquelyn “Jacque” Hope Stone Owens, 49, of Almyra, AR passed away, in her home, May 15th, 2024. She was born January 20th, 1975 in Stuttgart, AR to Gary and Mary Ann Stone. At the young age of 16 Jacque was injured in a single vehicle accident that left her paraplegic and confined to a wheelchair. Her strong will & determination never left her. In her senior year of high school, she began an afterschool work program at the Harry K. Dupree Stuttgart Nat’l Aquaculture Research Center (HKD SNARC) which led to a 20 plus year career as Program Support Assistant to the late Harry K. Dupree. She also worked under the directors Donald Freeman and Carl Webster. Ms. Nina Capps was a loving and caring supervisor over Jacque through her early years there. The family wishes to thank all the staff for their support and love for her throughout her years of employment there. This experience allowed her a firm footing into the world of adulthood and broke down barriers that her disability caused her to face.

During her years at HKD SNARC, Jacque became a mother to two daughters, Mary Claire Synco and Madelyn Owens. She married the love of her life, Rusty Owens August 28th, 2015. Rusty has been by her side as a devoted husband and caregiver.

Jacque was a member of First Baptist Church Almyra where she gave her heart to Jesus at 8 years of age. Through all the trials in her path, she grew to love and live for her Lord and Savior more and more with each passing year. As her health continued to decline, she would share with anyone who would listen how God was blessing her on a daily basis. Jacque recently shared with her daddy that she was ok with the suffering she was going through because it just brought her closer to Jesus.

Jacque was preceded in death by her grandparents Jack & Lorene Pierce (Maw & Paw), Hugh Sharp (Pop) and Glenn Stone (Grandpa).

She is survived by her husband Rusty Owens; parents Gary and Mary Ann Stone; brother Chris Stone (Erika) of Almyra; daughter Mary Claire Synco (Tyran) of DeWitt and daughter Madelyn Owens of Almyra; grandmother Jeannie Stone of Almyra; Nephew Gunnar Stone (Andrea); great-nephew Beckham of Jacksonville, FL; nieces, Harlie Heien of Charleston, SC; Sada Beth Stone of Fayetteville, AR; former sister-in-law Samantha DeSalvo (Danny) and honorary nephew Truitt DeSalvo of NLR, AR; as well as many loving cousins, aunts and uncles.

A memorial service was held May 18 at First Baptist Church Almyra.

The family request that any memorial donations to be given to First Baptist Church Almyra toward “Feed the Flock” or “Rooted” ministries. They may be mailed to First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 211, Almyra, AR 72003.

Phillipians: 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”.

Cremation arrangements by Essex Funeral Home. www.essexfuneralhome.com