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 Marlene Wessel Owens 1934 ~ 2010 Marlene Wessel Owens passed away peacefully at home withfamily on November 14, 2010 from cancer. Born in 1934, Marlene lived an adventurous youth on Long Island, New York, with her brother Bill, where the kids grew up camping, canoeing, swimming, and shooting .22 rifles at the targets inside the garage. Her father, William Wessel, was National Director of the Cub Scouts and mother, Elva Missouri Moss, was director of the Missing Seamen's Bureau during World War II. For many summers, Marlene was a counselor at Camp Manitou in up-state New York where she was head of the waterfront, introducing inner-city kids from Brooklyn to swimming and boating. She was elected president of Alpha Chi Omega at the University of Utah, and was generally the life of the party. After graduation, she went off to teach school in California with pal Tonia Stallings (Jensen) for a year. Bill joined the Marine Corps and was highly decorated for his service as an officer in Vietnam. He survives Marlene. Marlene served a mission to France for the LDS Church. She delighted in the work, loved the people, and had great success. During her mission, she briefly met Wayne Owens, a boy from Panguitch, who noticed the young woman from the big city, but she could barely remember him when he called her after returning from his mission. Though she never lacked suitors, Marlene was quickly convinced that Wayne was the man for her, even though the relationship got off to a rocky start when Wayne asked on their first date if she could type (she could not). They were married in the Salt Lake Temple and raised five children, Elizabeth (David Tew), Doug (Cynthia Smart), Sara (Otis Woodard), Steve (DawnAnn Cook), and Ted (Andrea Thomas). They have 15 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Marlene supported Wayne's political career, hard though it was, totally believing in his efforts to improve life for the powerless, protect the environment, and make peace in the Middle East. Marlene was probably happiest when Wayne was president of the Canada Montreal Mission. During those three years, she spent many days at a time working with the sister missionaries. When Wayne died eight years ago, she mourned him deeply but was able to resume her quietly joyful nature. After raising the kids and while in Washington, D.C. with Wayne, Marlene went back to teaching. She was the only Anglo in the entire school, but to her that was not a remarkable fact except that she seemed odd to her students. After moving back to Utah, she taught at Edison Elementary, once arranging to take her entire class on a field trip to Washington, D.C. She stayed close to her students after they moved on. She was called as Relief Society president in almost every ward she lived in. She followed the whispering of the spirit; many have stories of her appearing on their step in the critical hour with a meal, ice cream, a receptive heart, or other service. She was completely modest, even uncomfortable when the focus of attention was on her. She thought herself awkward in speech, but she was not. She could only speak from the heart. She could see through a façade a mile away but still loved the person underneath. Marlene was a serious student of the scriptures, Mormon history and theology, and women's history. She loved good literature, friends, and family. She would not utter a negative word. She knew which issues should be fixed and which were better to sweep under the rug. Her affection for the wayward never waivered. She would laugh uncontrollably before she could finish telling a joke. She was a strong swimmer who once saved a drowning boy in the Virgin Islands, but later on she was slow to realize she was getting frail and sometimes it was all her terrified kids could do to keep her out of a rough ocean. Marlene loved the water. A year ago Marlene was called to serve an inner city service mission. At about the same time she was diagnosed with cancer. After surgery, she learned with delight that she would be serving in the Swahili speaking branch, and she was anxiously engaged in that work for several months before the cancer returned. Throughout the illness, her essential kindness never waivered. Goodbye for now Marlene. We miss you fiercely. We are grateful for you and for the Savior who will see us together again. Viewing - Friday, November 19, 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Arlington Hills Ward, 1300 East Fairfax Road (335 N. just across from Shriner's Hospital off Virginia Street) Funeral - Saturday, November 20, 11:00 a.m. at the same location. Family prayer at 10:30. No viewing will be held prior to the funeral on Saturday. Flowers may be sent to Larkin Mortuary, 260 East South Temple.
Published in Deseret News from November 17 to November 19, 2010
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