Sylvia Lucille Owens

Sylvia Lucille Streeter was born February 9, 1921, in Meeker, Oklahoma to Charles and Laura Edna Streeter. She was the fifth child, being the first girl, joining four older brothers. She was later blessed with a baby sister, Sybol Geraldine “Jerry” and the two were involved in many “antics” growing up before becoming best friends for life.

As a small child, the family moved near Shawnee where Sylvia started school at the age of four, walking approximately two miles each way with her older brothers. Another move, while she was in high school, took them to Seminole where she completed her education. One of her most special memories from high school was being crowned basketball queen.

Giving her life to Christ at the age of sixteen, she was baptized in a pond near her home. It was always especially important to Sylvia that her family come to know the Lord, and she taught many generations to love and serve Him. Her granddaughters remember her making all four of them matching dresses for Easter Sunday, spending many hours at the sewing machine. They also recall that she always made sure their Sunday dinner would be ready after she took them to church, and quite often, they could smell the onions on her hands in church from her loving efforts.

Sylvia married Herbert Herring in May of 1939 and their only child, Joyce Ann, was their pride and joy. They continued to live in the Shawnee area until 1957, when Herb took a job in the oilfield at Farmington, New Mexico. She tragically lost Herb to an accident in 1960, and this prompted her move to Beaver, Oklahoma to be near Joyce and her granddaughters.

In Beaver, Sylvia began her twenty-three-year career working for the Colvin Insurance Agency, a job she dearly loved. It was there that a widower, Carl Owens, caught her attention and as she liked to tell it, he kept making excuses to come into the office until his brother finally told him to quit buying all that insurance and just ask her out. On Valentine's Day in 1962, they were joined in marriage, and Sylvia gained another son and daughter, Larry and Patricia. She and Carl enjoyed forty-two years together until Carl passed away in 2004.

After retirement, she enjoyed gardening, quilting, painting, being involved in Beaver Sr. Citizens Center, raising a few head of cattle and various other farm animals, but most of all she and Carl enjoyed spending time with their children and grandchildren, attending their various activities.

Sylvia went Home to her Lord and Savior on September 10, 2026, at the age of 105 and the family rejoices that Jesus was the first face she saw after many years of blindness.

The Beaver Co. Nursing Home had been her home since 2020, and she enjoyed many fun times with her “new family” as long as her health would allow. Losing her sight did not stop her from playing bingo, participating in crafts, throwing cow chips, trying her luck fishing at Beaver Lake with her new friends, attending the NH church services, even dancing with Jessie and Katelynn in “Cow Chip Has Talent” at the age of 102.

She was also very honored to be a member of the “Centenarians of Oklahoma” who recognized her on her 100th birthday and each year thereafter. Sylvia was also very proud of her six-generation picture that was made when her first great, great, great-granddaughter was born.

Sylvia was an inspiration to all who were blessed to know her. Many, many benefited from her wisdom including her great, great, great grandchildren.

She would probably tell you that the most amazing invention during her lifetime was the "Alexa" who helped her through the long days without sight by playing trivia games to keep her mind active. She also liked to ask Alexa to catch her up on the news, weather, and even listened to the Oklahoma City Thunder games. She even memorized all of the state capitals using Alexa and won the Nursing Home Spelling Bee at the age of 102. Being blind never prevented her from trying to learn and finding some enjoyment in her life.

Sylvia always encouraged us to enjoy life and its blessings and rely on God to help us through the tough times and challenges we faced. Those were not just empty words; they were truly the words in which she lived.

Sylvia was preceded in death by her parents, all of her siblings, husbands Herbert Herring and Carl Owens; daughter Joyce Ritter; stepson Larry Owens and great, great-granddaughter Delainey Millikan.

She is survived by her four granddaughters, whom she took into her home and helped raise; Tammy Millikan (Larry), Debra Paxton (Larry), Lori Kelly (Don) and Lisa Lawson (Ronnie), step-daughter in law Mimi Owens, step-daughter Patricia Owens and grandsons, Oscar Owens & Brad Williams.

Also blessed to have had her in their lives are many great grandchildren (who affectionately changed her name to “Nana Lou” for the rest of the generations to come), several great, great grandchildren and three great, great, great grandchildren. She also leaves a niece and nephew, Kay & Jim Simpson and Tom & Barbara Stidham, who she loved dearly.

Grandma, we are so thankful you heard those words “Well done, My good and faithful servant.” We will miss you dearly but will cherish all of the life lessons you taught us and the special memories we shared.