Dean Owens

William Dean Owens, 87, passed away on May 22, 2019 in Lawrence, Kansas. Born in Topeka, Kansas on July 3, 1931, to Melvina (Cooper) Owens and Claude E. Owens, Dean graduated from the University of Kansas in 1953. He met the love of his life, Doris McConnell, during college and they married on June 10, 1953 in Plymouth Congregational Church. He served in the Marine Corps and then returned to Lawrence where he managed the family lumber business for ten years. With the support of Doris and with three small children, Dean enrolled in Law School at KU. On graduation in 1968, the family moved to Salina, Kansas and he joined Hampton, Royce, Engleman & Nelson, where he practiced law for over 35 years. The best decisions he ever made were to marry Doris, go back to school, to live in Salina and to retire in Lawrence.

Dean and Doris loved to travel. They were able to share London with their grandchildren when each of them turned 16. Although he went to all seven continents, his favorite trip was with his children and daughter-in-law on safari in Tanzania in 2015.

Doris preceded Dean in death. Dean is survived by three children, Steve (Mindy) of Leawood, Susan (Jim) Bloom of Lawrence and Sarah (Thom) Steele of Wichita, six grandchildren, Kaitlin, Ashley, Allison, Whitney, Lindsey and Andrew, and six great-grandchildren, Colby, Camryn, Luke, Rowan, Linley and Lincoln.

Services will be held at Plymouth Congregational Church at 1:00 p.m. on May 29, 2019. The family suggests memorials to the Lawrence Public Library Foundation or the Watkins Museum of History, 1047 Massachusetts, Lawrence, Kansas 66044 or may be sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary, 120 W. 13th Street, Lawrence, KS 66044.

For more information or to post a condolence go to warrenmcelwain.com.