Obituary: Marilyn Faye Avery Owens
Marilyn Avery Owens, 92, passed away peacefully on October 18, 2022. A service of remembrance will be held graveside at Westview Cemetery on Saturday, October 22, 2022 at 1:00 p.m.
The family will receive friends following the service. Marilyn, born in Lenoir County, was the daughter of Harold L. and Hazel L. Avery. She graduated from Grainger High School in 1948. She soon met her future husband at a church meeting and on October 19, 1950, Brooks and Marilyn were married. Marilyn spent the next 14 years raising her two daughters and one son in a home full of love, the teachings of Jesus, common sense advice, and lots of time with family.
When all three children were in school, Marilyn began working as a teacher’s assistant in special education classrooms sponsored by Lenoir County Mental Health, Lenoir County Schools, and Kinston City Schools. She cherished her time with so many wonderful special children and the children responded to her with love. In retirement, Marilyn and Brooks traveled to many states with family, friends, or their Spilman Baptist Church group.
They especially looked forward to their annual anniversary trip to the North Carolina mountains. Marilyn loved spending time spoiling her six grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. Marilyn was active in the Lenoir County Meals on Wheels program and served as its treasurer for several years. She enjoyed working with young people in her church as a Sunday school teacher and youth group director. Left to cherish her memory with love and gratitude are her husband of 72 years, Alton Brooks Owens; daughters, Sharon Owens Kimrey (Rufus) and Carol Owens Larkins, both of Kinston; son, Timothy Brooks Owens (Pride) of Columbia, South Carolina; sister, Mavis Avery Taylor of Kinston, and sisters-in-law, Francis Owens Etheridge and Mencey Owens Lynn (Norman) both of Wilson.
Her grandchildren will remember their Grandmama with much love; Elizabeth Craig Sutton of Greenville, Joshua Charles Larkins, Zachary Brooks Larkins (Ashley) both of Charleston, South Carolina, Dr. Timothy Brooks Owens (Julia) of Charlotte, North Carolina, Gadsden Shand Owens (fiancée, Margaret) of Atlanta, Georgia, and Julian Bonham Owens of Columbia, South Carolina. Her first great-grandchild, Catherine Hardy Sutton, was the apple of her eye and she would have been thrilled to welcome two more great-granddaughters in November of this year and January of 2023.
Many nieces and nephews will also remember her with love. In addition to her parents, her brothers, William T. Avery and Edward C. Avery; mother-in-law, Daisy Webb Owens; sisters-in-law, Kay F. Avery and Earlene O. Banks, and brother-in-law, Owen Etheridge, preceded her in death.
The family would like to express their deepest gratitude to the staff of The Cottage at Spring Arbor for the love, care, and attention Mrs. Owens received while in their care. Flowers may be sent to Howard-Carter Funeral Home, or memorials may be made to Spilman Baptist Church, 601 Madison Avenue, Kinston, North Carolina 28501.
