Emmy Lou Owen

Emmy Lou Owen of Bend died on May 13, 2014 at the age of 92. Born in Aberdeen, Wash., Emmy Lou was the daughter of the late Heine and Susan Green Schmidt. In 1924, the family relocated to California and lived in Berkeley, Piedmont, Santa Barbara, Burlingame, and San Francisco. They moved to Palo Alto in 1933 where Emmy Lou attended Castilleja School for girls. She went on to Stanford University majoring in political science. Emmy Lou lived in San Francisco during World War II and worked for the regional office of the War Manpower Commission as a personnel officer. She also was a member of the San Francisco Modern Dance Concert group for several years. Emmy Lou met Stanley Dorrance Owen while at Stanford and they married in the Stanford Memorial Chapel in February 1947. Stanley then began his career at ARCO and they moved to Southern California where they lived in Long Beach, Beverly Hills, and Brentwood. In 1955, they settled in Rolling Hills with their three young sons. Emmy Lou volunteered with Harbor General Hospital, PTA, Little League, Spastic Childrens League, and Los Angeles Philharmonic Auxiliary. In 1969, they relocated to Anchorage, Alaska during the construction of ARCOs Alaska pipeline project. While there, Emmy Lou was active with the Anchorage Symphony League, World Affairs Council, and Petroleum Wives Club. When Stanley retired in 1976, they returned to California to live in Laguna Niguel. The Owens found Sunriver, Ore. in 1981 and built a house on the Deschutes River, where they remained until Stanleys death in 2002. During that time, Emmy Lou was an active member of the Sunriver Homeowners Board, Sunriver Music Festival, Newberry Habitat Board of Directors, Womens Club, and numerous other committees. After working as a volunteer with the AARP Foundation Tax-Aide program in Southern California for two years, she continued to prepare taxes for the program in Bend for 21 years. In 2004, Emmy Lou moved to Touchmark at Mt. Bachelor Village in Bend, where she enjoyed spending time with new and old friends, as well as supporting the Met Opera, Central Oregon Symphony, and Cascade Theatre performances. She loved camping at Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite National Park. Emmy Lou returned there often over the years with her parents, husband, sons, and friends, making cherished memories during each visit. Because of those trips, the High Sierra region always held a special place in her heart. Emmy Lou is survived by her sons Edward of Portland, Ore., Barry (Diana) of Durango, Colo., and Stanley (Laura) of Pacific Palisades, Calif.; five grandchildren Leigh, Toby, Molly, Spencer, and Alec; and her brother, Nicholas Schmidt of Denver, Colo., and his family. Funeral Home: Niswonger-Reynolds Funeral Home New 105 NW Irving Ave Bend, OR US 97701

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Emmy Lou Owen

November 23, 1921 - May 13, 2014