Mabel Wilma Owens

Mabel Wilma (Marsh) Owen, born in Staples, Minnesota, died of heart failure on May 21 at Evergreen Hospice House in Albany surrounded by her family.
She attended grade school in a one-room school house a half mile from her home. Winters were severe and many times her dad took the three kids on a two-horse sled used to haul hay from the meadows, and covered the children with a cowhide robe. Mabel loved the farm and at 6 years old insisted on milking a cow. Her parents gave in and bought her a six-quart galvanized pail and though a very small girl, she milked her first cow.
After completing her education at Staples High School, She went to college in Minneapolis and after college worked at Midland Co-op Wholesale as a bookkeeper. Not liking the big city, she acquired 80 acres adjoining the family farm and returned to farming with her dad. Winter weather was hard and in 1948 her parents sold their farm and moved to Harrisburg. Mabel's first job in Oregon was bookkeeper at Harrisburg Woolen Mill until it closed. She then worked in a large brooder house that raised chickens and turkeys. With the money from this job, Mabel was able to buy a new car. In 1950, she was again in an office at Eugene Laundry and Dry Cleaners as a bookkeeper. In 1955 Mabel married Louis Owen and they bought one acre of land in Harrisburg. They lived in a small trailer until a well was put in and a house was built.
Mabel enjoyed making quilts and had a group of women come to her home to make quilts and they were donated to the Eugene Mission and other charitable groups. They made over 900 quilts over several years. Mabel was a member of the VFW in Harrisburg for many years. She was president of that chapter at one time. She loved and adored her family and her cat, dog, African gray parrot and geese. She loved farming, gardening and canning what she grew. She was a member of the Albany Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Mabel is survived by her children, Russell Owen and wife Cindy of Beaverton, Gloria Owen and husband Richard Clarke of Albany, and Ludell Breding and husband Tracy of Junction City; sister Hazel Unterseher; nine grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Jesse and William Marsh; husband Louis Owen; and brother Harry Marsh.
A celebration-of-life reception will be from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 21, in the Albany Seventh-day Adventist Church fellowship hall.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Mabel's honor to Evergreen Hospice House in Albany or Harrisburg Fire Department in care of AAsum-Dufour Funeral Home, 805 Ellsworth St. S.W., Albany, OR 97321.