Owen Meats

Owen Williams Meats, age 41 of Tampa, FL died suddenly in Bamberg, SC, on Wednesday, December 29, 2021. Much beloved son, brother, and uncle, his loss at far too young an age is deeply grieved by a wide circle of friends and by parents Mary Beth Harris and Stephen Meats (Ann), sister Lael Winheim (Joy), nephew Jude Arango, and his Harris family―Tom (Ursula), Stewart (Darline), Doug, Amanda, and seven nieces and nephews―with whom he had just spent a wonderful Christmas at Edisto Beach, SC. He was preceded in death by step-father, James T. Harris, Jr., and older brother, John I. Meats. Born in Pittsburg, KS, Owen attended elementary schools in Tampa, high school in Pittsburg, and earned a degree in Culinary Arts from the Art Institute of Tampa. He worked in restaurants in Pittsburg, Tampa, and Sarasota, but his first love was music. A talented guitarist, singer, and composer, Owen played with bands such as Ill Faded in Pittsburg and Swampuss and The Holy Terror in Tampa. He also excelled behind the scenes as an event organizer and sound engineer, running sound for events and producing many albums in a studio he helped build. A perfectionist, he drew out the best in performers with his directness, while still exuding warmth and passion for making music and art. In 2020, Owen began working with Livework Studios, and in his brief time there, stood out for his potential, positive impact on crew morale, and enthusiasm for the company’s projects and mission. Described as the “world’s scariest-looking teddy bear,” with mischievous eyes and a head full of curls, Owen was loved and respected by friends and family and left an indelible impression on everyone he met. At a loss for words to express their heartbreak, Owen's family share a quote from “House of Leaves,” his favorite book: "And my voice you will always hear. And my hand you will always have. For I will shelter you. And I will comfort you. And even when we are nothing left, not even in death, I will remember you." An outdoor memorial event is planned for January 15, 2022, 6 pm, at Shuffle, 2612 N. Tampa Ave., Tampa. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in Owen’s memory to Recycled Tunes (www.recycledtunesflorida.com), the National Independent Venue Foundation (www.NIVF.org), or a charity of your choice.

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