AMES D. OWENS obituary

MIAMI - James D. Owens, 66, of Miami, a longtime Montana school principal, superintendent and basketball coach, died of cardiac arrest Friday in Miami.

Cremation has taken place. Services will take place in White Sulphur Springs in early summer.

Owens, 66, was born on Jan. 2, 1938, in Circle, MT.

Jim lived most of his life in Montana. He graduated from Wibaux County High School, where he excelled in basketball, baseball and football. Jim attended the University of Montana and Montana State University, where he played basketball and baseball.

He earned a master's degree in education and took great joy in teaching, coaching and working as a principal and superintendent for more than 40 years in Montana, Wyoming and Florida. He was very proud of the three state champion basketball teams he coached in Montana and Wyoming.

Between 1970 and 1981, Jim was a varsity basketball coach, history and Native American studies teacher and later dean of students at Havre High School, and the principal of Havre Junior High School.

Jim loved to travel, read, research his Irish heritage and share his philosophies about life.

Jim was preceded in death by his father, Gomer Owens.

He is survived by his mother, Lois Owens of White Sulphur Spring; wife, Martha Owens of Miami; sister, Mary Jane (Dick) Inderland of Martinsdale; and brother Frank Owens of Trout Creek. Jim was married to Marlene Fasching Agnew and is survived by their five children: Brad (Dorothy) Owens of Missoula; Shawn (Jedd) Parker of Sammamish, Wash .; Deanna (Will) Beadnell of Salineville, Ohio; Michelle Owens of New York City; and Brian (Alex) Owens of Lake Oswego, Ore .; his stepchildren, Richard, Catalina and Giovanni Cantillano; and 13 grandchildren.

Memorials can be made to the public library of the donor's choice.