JOHN HOWARD OWEN

1926 - 2014

John Howard Owen passed away at his home in Burlington, WA on September 8, 2014. Born to Helen and Roy Owen in Mount Vernon, WA on February 24, 1926, he attended school in Burlington, graduating from Burlington-Edison High School in 1944. During his high school years, he helped his grandparent's, Lottie and John Sahlbom on their chicken farm, as well as helping them grow crops and transitioning them from a horse and plow to their first tractor. After graduation, John entered the Army Air Corps.

He married Lois David from Burlington and upon returning from the service attended Seattle University, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry. He went on to teach high school on Orcas Island, coached football, and while there he helped form the Orcas Island Yacht Club. He also taught at Mount Vernon High School and was the assistant football coach with Joe Day. He then went to work as a chemist at Shell Oil in Anacortes and began a long, successful sales and marketing career, using his industrial chemist background in the Oil, Chemical and Paint industries. He worked for Exxon, Hempel Marine Paints, and Fuller-O'Brien Paints in various locations around the US. No matter where he lived, he always loved coming back to visit Skagit Valley. He stayed in close touch with his children who grew up in Burlington, former students, classmates, and local friends. Attending BEHS high school reunions was always a highlight of his busy life.

In 1994, John married a Burlington classmate, Georgia (Crossley) Taylor. They purchased a home in Burlington near the Skagit Golf and Country Club, looking east through tall trees to the hills.

John loved boating and knew the San Juan's like the back of his hand. It was a sad day when he had to sell his "Lovable", a 1968 Grand Banks, that he had restored to perfection. He and Georgia made many friends and stayed in touch with several "old timers" in the Orcas Island Yacht Club.

His greatest joy was getting visits from his son Jon and grandson Christopher from Delaware. His daughter Lori, who lives in Mount Vernon, was very special to him. She visited often and he frequently called her just to talk.

John is survived by daughter Lori Owen of Mount Vernon; son Jon Owen (Wendy) and grandson Christopher of Greenville, DE; his wife Georgia and her children Debra Peterson of Kirkland, Wade Hampton Taylor (and wife, Jill) and grandsons Ryan Taylor of Burlington VT, and Adam Taylor of Denver, CO; and his previous wife Lois Owen of Mount Vernon.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, September 13, 2014 at 2:00pm at Kern Funeral Home in Mount Vernon. Memorials may be made to Burlington-Edison Education & Alumni Foundation in memory of John H Owen, PO Box 350, Burlington, WA 98233. A private burial service will be held at a later date.

You may share your memories of John and sign his online guest register at www.kernfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are under the care of Kern Funeral Home.