Owen Handley

Owen "O.D." Handley, 83, of Midland, passed away Tuesday, March 3, 2009 in Midland after a brief illness. Memorial services will be held at 11:00 am, Saturday, March 7, 2009 at Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home Chapel in Midland with Rev. Terry Easley, officiating. Owen was born March 18, 1925, in Delta, Colorado to Willmette and Harmon Handley and married Thomasine Carruth on July 23, 1949 in Pampa, Texas. He grew up and attended elementary schools in the Ballinger, Texas area and attended high school in Lockney, Texas where he played "end" for the Lockney Longhorns. He was member of the Pampa Masonic Lodge, #966, and was a 33rd degree Mason, inducted at the Valley of San Antonio Orient of Texas Lodge. He was also a member of the Midland Masonic Lodge, #623. Owen was a member of First Christian Church. He had been a resident of Greenwood since 1980. Owen enjoyed life, especially football, softball, model railroading, fishing and flying his airplane. He truly enjoyed playing with his grandkids. He was a hero during the 1947 tornado in Woodward, Oklahoma. He flew doctors and nurses in to help victims of the tornado. He also flew the Oklahoma Governor into Washington DC, to go before Congress to request funding to rebuild Woodward. He was superintendent of the Skelley Gas Plant in Skelleytown, Texas. He was a processing engineer for T.H. Russell out of Tulsa, Oklahoma. He also worked for J.L. Davis in Midland. O.D. finished his career as a private consultant in developing gas plants and processes. Survivors include daughter, Molly Slattery and husband Matt of Evergreen, CO; brother-n-law, Canara Carruth and wife Vontel of Irving, TX; niece, Misty Curtiss of Dallas; nephew, Tom Carruth of Altadena, CA; six grandchildren and two great-granddaughters; numerous nieces, nephews and others that loved him dearly. He was preceded in death by his wife Thomasine, his parents and his son, Hoyt Handley. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Hospice of Midland Inpatient Unit, PO Box 2621, Midland, Texas 79702. Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Midland. Online condolences can be made at: www.npwelch.com.,