Linda Burkitt Owens

COOKEVILLE -- Funeral services for Linda Burkitt Owens, 55, of Cookeville, will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 15, at the First Baptist Church. Burial will be in Cookeville City Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 1 p.m. until time of service. The family will receive friends from 3-5 p.m. and 6-9 p.m. on Saturday, June 14, from the chapel of Dyer Funeral Home. Mrs. Owens died Thursday, June 12, 2008, in Cookeville Regional Medical Center. She was born Sept. 16, 1952, in Petaluma, Calif., to Ellen Burkitt of Nashville, and the late Robert Burkitt. Mrs. Owens was a public health nurse for the Tennessee Dept. of Health at the Cookeville Regional Health Office. She was most recently in charge of the Women's Cancer Screening program and prior to that, worked with the Tenn Care program, as well as the Crippled Children's Program. Mrs. Owens was very much involved in her nursing activities for 33 years and close to retirement. In 1997, she received America's Outstanding Young Women Award for her contributions in her nursing field. She will be truly missed by those she left behind. She was an outstanding woman, wife and mother. The world was truly a better place with her in it and all who knew her will miss her greatly and remember the good time spent with her. Mrs. Owens was also a member of First Baptist Church of Cookeville. In addition to her mother, her family includes her husband, John C. Owens of Cookeville; a daughter and son-in-law, Emily and Brad Qualls of Nashville; a brother, Russell Burkitt of Nashville; a niece, Leslie Burkitt of Nashville; a nephew, Nathan Burkitt of Nashville; and an aunt, Martha Mulloy of Nashville. Pallbearers will be family and friends. Memorial donations may be made to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Center. Bro. Charles Hutchinson will officiate the services.