James “Jimmy” Miller Owens

Jimmy Owens
September 7, 1943 – January 24, 2025
81 years young
Born James Miller Owens in Dallas Texas to James Floyd Owens and Mary Ruth (Hummel) Owens.
Jimmy “escaped” Dallas at 18 years of age on a westbound Greyhound Bus with cardboard suitcase and twenty dollars in his pocket. He had never been west of Fort Worth but found his way to San Francisco where he found nirvana and flourished.
After holding various white-collar jobs, Jimmy discovered his calling in bartending, a role that perfectly suited his charismatic and outgoing nature. He became a partner in Sutter’s Mill, an upscale bar in the Financial District that became a beloved gathering place for professional gay men in the mid-1970s. His warmth and infectious personality earned him a wide circle of friends, many of whom remained close throughout his life.
Jimmy survived the AIDS pandemic but lost countless loved ones to the plaque. He never forgot them as his world narrowed.
In 1979, he met the love of his life Stephen Yokoi, while living above the Castro District in the City. They eventually settled in Brisbane, CA as first-time homeowners. Nine years of DIY, both inside and out, a house was transformed into a home while hosting many dinners and parties. Jimmy and Stephen eventually moved to the Berkeley Hills in 1993 after Jimmy was promoted with Pacific Bell to San Ramon and Stephen’s job site with Caltrans moved to Oakland. They married in 2008, just days before Proposition 8 passed.
Berkeley ended up being their forever home. As garden enthusiasts, they transported numerous full-sized trees and plants from Brisbane. Over the next 32 years, the garden became the envy of the neighborhood. Jimmy’s love of books, music, photography, and politics fueled his intellectual curiosity. His passion for writing was evident in the unique picture cards he created, each one accompanied by heartfelt, personalized prose.
Genealogy was Jimmy’s lifelong obsession. He and Stephen traveled throughout the US and UK tracing Jimmy’s roots and connecting with distant relatives he found doing meticulous research. They also traveled to Japan to visit Stephen’s relatives and paternal ancestral village. Jimmy and Stephen were immediately embraced by family wherever they went.
Jimmy fought and survived multiple cancer diagnoses, the first of which was in 1981. By all accounts, he was a miracle patient and invincible for decades. He loved life and did everything he could to stay with us this last time.
Jimmy lived for his “loved ones.” He established friendships wherever he went his entire life, including his last caregivers whom he befriended just days before passing. You could not have had a better friend than Jimmy. Jimmy’s extraordinary life was filled with unconditional love.
Jimmy was predeceased by his sister, Eva Louise Farmer and his parents. He is survived by his beloved husband and partner of 45 years Stephen Yokoi, sister Jeanene Owens of Mesquite, TX, many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
A private gathering of his loved ones to celebrate Jimmy’s life will be held in May in Jimmy’s Garden.
In honor of Jimmy, please reach out to a loved one. Tell them how much they mean to you.

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