Clarence Owens Jr.

Clarence Owens Jr., known lovingly to family and friends as "June" passed away on April 20, 2026, at the age of 80, in Indianapolis, Indiana, after a courageous battle with chronic illness. A man of quiet grace and gentle spirit, Clarence leaves behind a legacy of warmth, steadiness, and devotion to the people who mattered most to him.

Born on December 25, 1945, in McComb, Mississippi, Clarence was a Christmas Day gift to his family from the very start, and he spent the next eight decades quietly blessing the lives of everyone around him. He arrived in the world alongside his twin sister and grew up surrounded by a large and close-knit family.

Clarence accepted Christ at an early age and attended Pleasant Grove Baptist Church. He attended primary school in Fernwood, Mississippi, and later attended Eva Gordon High School. As a child he enjoyed playing baseball and spending time with his horse Sunny. On July 8, 1965, he married the love of his life, Earnestine Carter, in Fernwood, Mississippi. The couple settled in Indianapolis, Indiana. Together they built a life and a family, having three children, that would become his greatest pride. Clarence dedicated nearly three decades of hard work to Von Duprin before earning a well-deserved retirement in 2012.

Those who knew June, knew a man who was described as smooth, quiet, and mild mannered. He was a man of few words, however when he spoke, his words carried meaning and an undertone of his special kind of humor. He didn't need to be the loudest person in the room to leave the biggest impression. He had a calm, steady presence that put people at ease and made them feel right at home. He loved watching westerns, basketball, football, and one of his favorite pastimes was simply "sitting on the gary" (the porch) with his brother "Lippy," enjoying each other's company the way only brothers can. It was in those quiet, unhurried moments that June was most himself.

Clarence is survived by his devoted wife, Earnestine Owens; his son, Clarence Owens III; his daughters, Tamora Sherea Owens and Talisha S. (Owens) Bradley (Jai Bradley); grandchildren Troy G. Posey, Toria (Owens) Graham (Darrel Graham Jr.), Bryson Owen Bradley, Karter B. Bradley, Kolton I. Bradley, Brielle K. Bradley; great-grandchildren Gavin M. Graham, and Trace A.J. Graham: siblings Clarice Owens (twin sister), Evanell Brazil (Robert Brazil) and a host of other family and friends.

Clarence was preceded in death by his parents Clarence Sr. and Beatrice Owens; brothers Carol Owens, Leon Owens, Walter Owens, and Thomas (T.C.) Owens.