June Keefe Owens

June Keefe Owens, mother of Governor Bill Owens, passed away Wednesday afternoon following a brief illness. Mrs. Owens is survived by five children. In addition to the Governor, they are: Michael, a U.S. diplomat serving in Australia; Mary K. Lowe, a resident of Englewood employed by Ciber Inc.; Betsy Anastasia, an educator living in Falmouth, Mass.; and Kelly Tschatschula, a Denver homemaker. She also is survived by 11 grandchildren. Governor Owens issued the following statement on behalf of the entire family. 'Mom has been the foundation of our family, giving us love and strength. Her strength and the lessons she taught us will guide us for the rest of our lives'. Mrs. Owens was born in Fargo, North Dakota in 1917. She attended North Dakota State University where she was a member of the Gamma Phi Beta sorority. Following college, she moved to Minneapolis where she met Arthur Patrick Owens. June and Pat Owens were married in New Jersey in 1943 where Capt. Owens was stationed at Fort Dix while serving in the U.S. Army. Mrs. Owens worked in New York City for United Features Syndicate. After the war, they moved to Fort Worth, Texas where they raised their family. Her husband preceded her in death ten years ago. Mrs. Owens moved to Colorado in May 2000. In Colorado, she spent much of her time volunteering for such organizations as the Cancer League, Porter Hospital and the Cherry Creek Republican Women's Association. She also was an avid bridge player and reader. Mrs. Owens suffered a mild stroke last Thursday afternoon and was taken to Porter Hospital. At the hospital, she suffered a major stroke on Sunday morning and did not regain consciousness. Services will be Friday, July 18, at 11:00 a.m. at the Church of the Risen Christ, 3060 S. Monaco Parkway in Denver. Private interment to follow. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to either the Porter Hospice Foundation (333 W. Hampden Ave., Suite 620, Englewood, CO 80110) or Samaritan House (2301 Lawrence St., Denver, CO 80205). Donations should be noted in memory of June Owens.