Obituary for Bette Owens
Bette Owens passed away on Friday, February 4, 2022 at the age of 78.
Bette was born to Robert and Dorothy Douglass on April 19, 1943 in Illinois. The family moved to Michigan during her younger years and she grew up in Ann Arbor attending Ann Arbor Public Schools.
Bette met James “Jim” Owens when she was 13 years old when she and her best friend would head down to the West Park Band Shell for some fun. She and her friend would throw rocks at the boys, Jim included. A couple years later, Bette encountered Jim again while at West Park in the warming shack for ice skaters. He had seen her skating and thought “what a beautiful girl.” They soon met up for a few Argus Dances but later lost touch. After hearing Jim was in the hospital after a motorcycle accident, she came to visit him at the hospital. He recognized her beautiful long, blonde hair when she walked in to cheer him up. After a few months in California, Jim found himself in Ann Arbor again, at a store on the corner of Main and Washington Street. Bette was working behind the counter. A month later in 1961, they were married. Their family was complete with the birth of their son, John and daughter, Kris.
Bette was a caretaker. She cared for her family and also ran her own daycare, Bette Owens Daycare, for over 20 years. She was amazing with children and people. Throughout the years, Bette was quite the businesswoman. She was tough and straightforward but always fair and kind. She was an excellent bowler and participated in league bowling for many years, traveling the country and state for tournaments. Bette was also a creative person. She wrote many poems and created many stained-glass items that the family treasures. She will be remembered for how social and outgoing she was, but most of all for how much compassion she had. She just adored children and animals, especially her own. She was the best wife and mother to her family.
Bette is survived by her adoring husband, Jim Owens; loving children, John (Connie) Owens and Kris (Kelley Ross) Owens; cherished grandchildren, Brian (Ivy) and Jessica; beloved great-granddaughters, Lena and Amber; dear brother, Steve Douglass and her faithful four-legged fur-babies, Maddie and Pippin.
Bette is preceded in death by her parents Robert and Dorothy Douglass, and brothers Robert "Bob" Douglass and Thomas "Tom" Douglass.
The family would like to send a special thank you to all of the Promedica Hospice staff that assisted with Bette’s health care.
Visitation will be held at Nie Funeral Home - Carpenter Road Chapel on Tuesday, February 8, 2022 from
11:00 am until the start of the funeral service beginning at 1:00 pm.
To honor Bette's memory, the family asks donation be made to the organizations linked below:
Humane Society of Huron Valley
Promedica Hospice
Please sign the Tribute Wall and share a memory of Bette.
Bette was born to Robert and Dorothy Douglass on April 19, 1943 in Illinois. The family moved to Michigan during her younger years and she grew up in Ann Arbor attending Ann Arbor Public Schools.
Bette met James “Jim” Owens when she was 13 years old when she and her best friend would head down to the West Park Band Shell for some fun. She and her friend would throw rocks at the boys, Jim included. A couple years later, Bette encountered Jim again while at West Park in the warming shack for ice skaters. He had seen her skating and thought “what a beautiful girl.” They soon met up for a few Argus Dances but later lost touch. After hearing Jim was in the hospital after a motorcycle accident, she came to visit him at the hospital. He recognized her beautiful long, blonde hair when she walked in to cheer him up. After a few months in California, Jim found himself in Ann Arbor again, at a store on the corner of Main and Washington Street. Bette was working behind the counter. A month later in 1961, they were married. Their family was complete with the birth of their son, John and daughter, Kris.
Bette was a caretaker. She cared for her family and also ran her own daycare, Bette Owens Daycare, for over 20 years. She was amazing with children and people. Throughout the years, Bette was quite the businesswoman. She was tough and straightforward but always fair and kind. She was an excellent bowler and participated in league bowling for many years, traveling the country and state for tournaments. Bette was also a creative person. She wrote many poems and created many stained-glass items that the family treasures. She will be remembered for how social and outgoing she was, but most of all for how much compassion she had. She just adored children and animals, especially her own. She was the best wife and mother to her family.
Bette is survived by her adoring husband, Jim Owens; loving children, John (Connie) Owens and Kris (Kelley Ross) Owens; cherished grandchildren, Brian (Ivy) and Jessica; beloved great-granddaughters, Lena and Amber; dear brother, Steve Douglass and her faithful four-legged fur-babies, Maddie and Pippin.
Bette is preceded in death by her parents Robert and Dorothy Douglass, and brothers Robert "Bob" Douglass and Thomas "Tom" Douglass.
The family would like to send a special thank you to all of the Promedica Hospice staff that assisted with Bette’s health care.
Visitation will be held at Nie Funeral Home - Carpenter Road Chapel on Tuesday, February 8, 2022 from
11:00 am until the start of the funeral service beginning at 1:00 pm.
To honor Bette's memory, the family asks donation be made to the organizations linked below:
Humane Society of Huron Valley
Promedica Hospice
Please sign the Tribute Wall and share a memory of Bette.