Evalyn Davis Owens, formerly of Clinton, Prince Georges Co. and Dunkirk, Calvert Co. Maryland, died Saturday, December 5, 2015 at her home in Bel Air, Maryland at age 96.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Leonard Vessey Owens “Pete”, and beloved granddaughter, Kathleen Elizabeth Brennan. Also preceding her in death were her dear sisters Iris Virginia Cayton, Mary Elizabeth Jacobs and Grace Kathleen Radcliff.
She is survived by her son, Leonard Davis Owens and his wife Virginia Knapp Owens, of Cary, NC; her daughter Carolyn Ann Brennan “Candy” and her husband Chuck of Forest Hill, MD; and her son Walter Dale Owens, of Round Rock, Texas. She is also survived by her Grandchildren: David Alan and James Michael Brennan, Michael Leonard Owens and Jennifer Elizabeth Owens Eisenmen, Victoria Nichole Owens and Rebecca Jin Hee Brennan Thom. She is also survived by great grandchildren Kaitlyn, James and Aidan Brennan and Ethan and Ivy Owens. In addition, she is survived by numerous nieces, nephews, and great nieces, and great nephews.
Born Orma Evalyn Davis on May 7, 1919 in Sandyville, Jackson County, West Virginia, she was the third child of Samuel Walter Davis and Josephine “Josie” Smith Davis. She grew up on a farm, surrounded by family and friends. Her mother died when she was 15. In 1937 she graduated from Gilmer H.S. Following the death of her father in 1941, she sold the family farm and joined two of her sisters in Washington, D.C. where she worked for Marriott Hot Shoppes. She met Pete in 1943 and they were married New Year’s Day, 1944. They made their home in Alexandria, Virginia where they had their first two children. In 1951 they moved into the home they built in Clinton, where they later had their third child. In 1969 they made their final move together to Dunkirk, Calvert County. Pete died in their home there on December 15, 1995. Evalyn remained in their Dunkirk home until 2005 when she moved to Northeastern Maryland to be near her daughter.
Evalyn was a life-long member of the Methodist Church. As a member of Bells UMC, Camp Springs, Maryland and later Smithville UMC, Dunkirk, she taught Sunday school, was active in the Methodist Women’s Society and attended Baltimore-Washington Conference sessions.
She was also a member of the Order of the Eastern Star for more than 60 years, serving as Worthy Matron of Marlboro Chapter # 61 in 1971. Later she transferred her membership to Havre de Grace Chapter # 37 in northeastern Maryland.
Her grandchildren will remember how she loved to travel throughout the country, visiting the State and National Parks, enjoying nature and especially birds and wildflowers. She was proud to have visited all 50 states.
Dunkirk was the setting of many family and holiday gatherings. Summer evenings might find us sitting at the edge of the garden just before dusk with Mom and Dad watching the evening primroses as they magically opened one by one. At the conclusion of the display came a beautiful Dunkirk sunset.
Evalyn will also be remembered for the diaries she kept for many years, her love of reading and poetry and especially her love of family.