Deborah M. Owens

Deborah Owens passed away Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2016 at Lakeview Village, Lenexa, KS. Deborah Owes, nee Deborah Mae Foushee, born in Tulsa, OK on August 12, 1932, to Charles and Elsie Foushee. She had one sister Barbara Jane (Foushee) Harris and one brother, Charles Lee Foushee II, who both preceded her in passing.

Deborah cherished her family: her devoted and loving husband of 58 years James (Jim) Owens; her three children, Jane Hayes (Jeff) of Merriam KS, Millie Mastromattei (Robert) of Granite Bay CA, and Dan Owens of Kansas City MO; five grandchildren, Sarah (Kyle) Dugan, Samuel Holder, Spencer Hayes, Tyler Mastromattei and Nick Mastromattei; two great-grandsons, Conrad and Oliver Dugan; and her many nieces and nephews.

A 1950 graduate of Will Rogers High School in Tulsa OK, Deborah went on to get her Bachelors of Arts in Education at Oklahoma State University. Because women were not admitted to the University of Virginia until 1952, she and her husband were later the first married couple to graduate from the University of Virginia (UVA). They received their Master's Degrees from UVA in 1963.

In her 31-year teaching career, Deborah touched the lives of many children and colleagues. Most of her career was spent working as a librarian at Brookridge Elementary in the Shawnee Mission School District.

Deborah was an active member of the Merriam Christian Church for 51 years. The many areas of her Christian service included teaching Sunday school classes, working with the Christian Women's Groups, serving as church elder, and volunteering on mission trips to Jamaica where she helped fit people for eyeglasses.

Deborah's community service activities included 30 years of service with the Johnson County Christmas Bureau. She was an active member of American Association for University Women (AAUW) for 51 years, a member of the Merriam Homemakers, and the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). Deborah also enjoyed her bridge groups, book groups, creative writing classes, crossword puzzles, Maj Jong, and other games. Reading was a lifelong passion that she enjoyed sharing with others. Deborah and Jim were members of the Kansas City German American Club and performed together with the German Folk Dancers.

Deborah was an eager traveler and enjoyed many trips with Jim and friends throughout the United States, including several trips to Hawaii and Alaska. She found enjoyment in many European countries, Turkey, Greece, and especially an extended trip to the Holy Lands. Her travels also took her to China, Australia, New Zealand, and a trip to study women's issues in the Soviet Union. Highlights of her retirement travels were cruises through the Caribbean, the Panama Canal, and around South America.

Deborah Owens' greatest joy was found spending time with family and friends.

Visitation will be 10-11:00 a.m. followed by an 11:00 memorial service, Monday, Dec. 5 at Merriam Christian Church, 9401 Johnson Dr., Merriam, Kansas 66203.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests contributions to Johnson County Christmas Bureau, Merriam Christian Church or the Shawnee Mission Chapter of the American Association of University Women