Stanley Paul Owen Ph.D.

1924 - 2014

Stanley Paul

Owen, Ph.D.

Stanley Paul Owen, Ph.D., passed away in Seattle, on the evening of January 5, 2014. He was surrounded by his loving family. For the past sixteen years he was a resident of Horizon House.

Dr. Owen was born March 30, 1924 in Alberta, Canada. After earning his Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Wisconsin in 1954 he went to work for The Upjohn company where he was an early pioneer in the detoxification of penicillin and the complex study of cancer cells. After years as a research scientist for Upjohn, he became Director of Laboratory Operations and Quality Control and rose to the position of Vice -President. In 1975, he was presented the Upjohn Award for his work in the development of many drugs which are still used today.

He believed strongly in the creative power of multi-culturalism and hired and encouraged scientists from around the world to join in disciplined approaches to scientific discovery. He and his wife Evelyn graciously hosted scientists, scholars, students, and hockey players in their home over the years. Yes, as Canadians they hosted the athletes as well for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, in order that they know more about an American tradition.

The family still cherishes a table cloth which was always signed by guests and then embroidered by Evelyn. It exists today with over on hundred signatures as a testament to their warmth, graciousness and generosity.

Dr. Owen retired at 60 and he and Evelyn moved to the Seattle area in 1986. He and Evelyn were involved early on in the conservation of nature. They twice bought land to save an endangered species when they saw development running rampant. They were active in the civil rights movement and other political activity for social change.

Stanley was very proud of his wife when she ran for political office or spoke with the media about controversial matters which was not common for a woman in her day. She pre-deceased him in 1995.

Stanley loved walking. He walked the wetlands and he walked the mountains. He walked rigorously in every city he visited. He once went on a three day trip with the Academy of Sciences in San Francisco to relive last days of Ishi, the Native American. He loved playing bridge, listening to music and reading from his vast library.

Although born in Canada, Stanley was descended from early settlers in the New World. Through the tireless genealogical research efforts of his nephew, Derek Owen, much has been discovered about the Owen Family Tree.

Descended from Bartholomew Owen, who arrived in America and settled in Prince Rupert County ,Virginia in 1641, Stanley's ancestors fought in the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, and the Battle of New Orleans. Later generations lived in Tennessee for over fifty years. His great-grandfather was related through marriage to Davey Crockett of the Alamo.

Later generations moved to Missouri before it was a state. Stanley's grandfather General Quitman Owen moved the family across the plains of the West in covered wagons to be among the pioneers of Montana. Paul Owen, Stanley's father, was born there in 1895.

It was the early childhood memories of family tales of the "white man" and the exploitation of the Native Americans that caused Stanley, as a scholar, to amass a library of over 2,800 books on the Indian Tribes of the West and Pacific Northwest. The collection was donated to Highline Community College, outside of Seattle, where the Stanley P. Owen collection can be visited today. Some very rare books also were donated to the University of Washington.

When his children were young he would read them the poetry of the American Indians or the Songs of Hiawatha. As a focused and disciplined man, one his favorite phrases was "Paddle your Own Canoe," a reference to taking personal responsibility for one's own actions.

Stanley's father Paul, had been a pilot in World War I for the US Army. After surviving the war, Paul and his best friend left Montana in a covered wagon and traveled over the American and Canadian Rockies in 1922. They arrived in the Alberta -Saskatchewan plain in a snowstorm. There he met the warm and loving Margaret Davidson.

It was the middle of the depression so there they stayed. They married, they farmed and under extremely difficult conditions, raised six children, Stanley being the oldest.

Alberta Budwill, his oldest sister, recalls, "Paul was the disciplinarian and Margaret was the love." All six children went on to live accomplished lives in spite of the hardship of those times.

When World War II broke out Stanley, too, became a pilot for the Royal Canadian Air Force. Because it was too dangerous to train pilots in England, Stanley taught them how to fly in Canada. During that period he met beautiful Evelyn McCaig (Smith) at a dance. It was love at first sight. They were married in 1946.

Stanley adored his brothers and sisters and their families. The love between them was palpable well into their later years. Given they were so close in age, when they gathered together the energy was extraordinary. Stanley lost both his oldest brother and sister-in-law Dale and Eleanor in 2009.

In 2012, he lost his youngest brother Douglas. Ruth, his surviving sister-in-law is in Edmonton, Canada. He is survived by his three sisters, Alberta Budwill of Portland, Dorothy Baynes and Marilyn Surgenor, both of Victoria, British Columbia. Additionally, there are many nieces and nephews for whom Stanley was a role model of kindness and intellectual curiosity.

He is also survived by his daughter and son , Audrey Owen of San Francisco and James Owen of Seattle and their spouses Nat Katzman and Nancy Owen. He leaves behind four grandchildren, Aaron Owen Katzman, Rachel Shana Owen Katzman, Jaimie Owen and Jared Owen. In addition, he has three great-grandchildren, Lucy Katzman, born in Seattle this November, Jaden Owen, and Jason Owen.

Stanley had may charitable causes. The family asks that if you choose to make a donation in Stanley's memory, do so to the charity of your choice.