Marilyn Owen

Marilyn "Lynne" Owen, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, cousin, and friend, passed away peacefully on November 5, at the age of 79. She left this world as she lived in it — with strength, grace, and a touch of stubborn sparkle.

Lynne lived a life rich in laughter, love, and language. A lifelong educator, she devoted her career, as an English teacher, principal and supervisor, to the betterment of Harford County Public Schools and its students. She had high standards, and loved a good, spirited, grammatically correct discussion. While she wasn't always the easiest to impress, she inspired all to strive for her treasured approval, and she was always an enthusiastic cheerleader.

Beyond her work, Lynne was the heartbeat of her family and a joy to her friends. With coffee or wine in hand, she could turn any table into a gathering place where all were welcome, and she brought her competitive spirit to every game of Boggle, Rummy Q, Pinochle or Pit.

Lynne is survived by her devoted husband and beloved travel companion, Thomas Owen; her daughter, Tracey Evans and husband, Scott Dessain; her son, Ted Evans and wife, Melissa; and her stepchildren, Gail and Kevin Owen.

She was also the extremely proud grandmother of Carly, Dylan, Jena, and Bailey, who were her greatest joy. Whether a whirlwind trip to Disney or the beach, or a quiet game or book at home, she always made her time with them magical.

An only child, Lynne cherished her close relationships with her cousins Maureen, Chris, Kathy and Sharon, and enjoyed countless hours of entertainment and laughter with them and their wonderful families.

She is also survived, of course, by a multitude of students whose lives are better for having known her.

A celebration of Lynne's life will be held following the holidays, at a date, time, and location to be determined. Family and friends will gather then to share stories, laughter and a toast - choose your coffee or wine! - to a remarkable person.

Lynne's legacy lives on — in the lessons she taught, the love she gave, and the laughter that will echo in our hearts. Words feel small without her, but we can only hope she's smiling, knowing she taught us how to find them.

Should anyone wish to honor Lynne's memory, please consider making donations to the Harford County Education Foundation, 260 Gateway Drive, Suite 21A, Bel Air, Maryland 21014 (www.harfordeducation.org/donations), or to any other worthy charity of your choosing.

Cheers to Lynne...and to a life well lived!

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