By NEAL WAGNER / City Editor

The Shelby County business community lost a “good friend” Dec. 17 when the owner of Minuteman Press in Alabaster passed away suddenly, said Greater Shelby County Chamber of Commerce President Jennifer Trammell.

Sixty-year-old Denney Wilson Owen, who operated the press business in Alabaster since January 2006, was active in the community, and was a “very outgoing guy,” Trammell said.

“I knew him not only through the business community, but through Rotary as well,” Trammell said. “He has always been a very strong member of the chamber.”

Through his business, Owen and his wife, Sherry, provided design, printing and finishing services for clients throughout the area. The Owens attended nearly every chamber function, and were sponsors of several chamber events.

“He was a very community-minded business man,” Trammell said. “We are going to miss him. I know I will miss him on a personal level.

“The business community lost a very good friend,” she added. “He was a good buddy, and a great person.”

Funeral services for Owen of Shelby Shores were held at First Baptist Church of Dadeville Dec. 20, at 2 p.m.

Visitation was Dec. 20, from noon to 2 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Dadeville. He was buried in the Dadeville City Cemetery.

He was born on March 2, 1950, to the late Carey and Virginia Owen.

In addition to his involvement in the Greater Shelby Chamber of Commerce, Owen was also an active member of the Calera Chamber and South Shelby Chamber of Commerce.

He is survived by his loving wife Sherry Owen and three children, Leigh Ann Bardenwerper (Drew) of Tuscaloosa, Laurie White Bowman of Auburn and Angel Owen Hussey (Anthony) of Ramer, six grandchildren, Scott and Ryan Bardenwerper, Alleigh, Michael and Caden Bowman, and Addison Hussey; three brothers, Carey, Eddie and Blake Owen and two sisters, Ginny Campbell and Lisa White.

The family requests in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Salvation Army or a charity of your choice in his memory.