Patricia M Owens Obituary (1928 - 2016)

?Patricia M. Owens, 88, of Oro Valley, Arizona passed away August 25, 2016 at the age of 88 years. She was preceded in death by her husband of nearly 50 years, John R. Owens. Pat is survived by her three sons, Steven (Rachelle), Daniel (Rose) and Robert (Debi) Owens, her grandchildren, Candace, Travis, John, Thomas and Phillip Owens, and her brother, Leroy M. Hollingsworth (Dolores). Her beloved granddaughter, Jennifer Chelsea Owens, preceded her in death. Services will be held at the Oro Valley Church of Christ at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 10, 2016, followed by a reception and celebration of life at the Splendido at Oro Valley at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 10, 2016. Interment of her ashes will take place at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday, September 11, 2016 at the Church of the Red Rocks, Sedona, Arizona, where she will rest next to her beloved husband. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in her memory to the Splendid Residents Association Scholarship Fund, 13500 North Ranch Vistoso Blvd., Oro Valley, Arizona 85755-5956, or if Sedona friends wish to contribute locally, in her memory to Verde Valley Caregivers Coalition, 299 Van Deren Road, Suite 2, Sedona, Arizona 86336. Patricia was born in Washington State and lived in Texas as well before settling in Colorado. She was a graduate of the University of Colorado at Boulder, where she received a degree in Art. Patricia was a dedicated mother, who after raising her three sons, helped her husband, John R. Owens, operate the Tomahawk Truck Stops, in Colorado and Nebraska. Upon retirement, John and Patricia moved to the Village of Oak Creek in Sedona, Arizona, where they were avid golfers and outdoorsmen. Patricia and John were both very active in the Church of the Red Rocks, filling many volunteer roles. While in Sedona, Patricia was instrumental in the creation of the Verde Valley Caregivers Coalition, which provides volunteers, programs and services to support adults in need of assistance in maintaining their independence and quality of life at home, and served in leadership roles in the Caregivers until her move to Tucson after the death of her husband, John. Patricia was always interested in assisting people, especially young women, with educational opportunities, and was a lifelong member of the Philanthropic Educational Organization (PEO), which provides scholarships and educational opportunities for young women. Upon taking up residence in the Splendido of Oro Valley, she was instrumental in the creation of the Splendid Residents Association Scholarship Fund, which endows scholarships for the young employees of Splendido who wish to pursue higher education while working or after working at Splendido. Numerous current and former Splendido employees have received scholarships. Patricia was also a founding member of Gestures of Joy, a group the performs an interpretive dance routine that includes American sign language out into the community to bring joy into other peoples' lives by entertaining at senior facilities and hospitals. See them in action at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJkYCuGvEzE Patricia's love and concern for others has endeared her to many, and enriched the lives of more people than we know, and she will be missed by all, especially her three sons, her brother and her five grandchildren.