WHEREAS, Timothy Desmond Owen was born August 8, 1954, in San Luis Obispo, California to Arthur and Katherine Owen, and his wife, Cheryl Janine Reed Owen, was born on August 18, 1955, in Anaheim, California to George and Grace Reed. Together Timothy and Cheryl tragically passed away on December 21, 2012, outside of Leavenworth, Washington. They are survived by their three children: Jessica (Jessie) Owen, Jamie Mayer, and Jeremy Owen, and Jamie's husband, Steven Mayer, after a tragic accident on Steven's Pass; and
     WHEREAS, Cheryl was a Mom who gladly opened her home and her heart. She was accepting and generous and taught others to give back to their community; and
     WHEREAS, Tim's passion was for coaching girl's youth soccer, and he is remembered for being a father figure. He possessed a natural ability to lead, always made it a priority to make sure his players came together and bonded, and taught his children to try new things and to push themselves; and
     WHEREAS, Tim and Cheryl's true love was their family. Cheryl referred to her family as the "rainbow family" in reference to her two adopted children, Jamie and Jeremy. They loved being together with their family. A proud, multicultural family. Whether on vacation, around the dinner table, or together in their big blue van, if they were together, they were happy; and
     WHEREAS, Cheryl and Tim were always there to serve their family, friends, and community; and
     WHEREAS, Tim and Cheryl loved each other dearly. Their love was the kind of love you only find once in a lifetime; and
     WHEREAS, Tim and Cheryl were honored to welcome Steven Mayer to their family. Steven, from Canada, and Jamie married at the Yacht Club in Edmonds. Jamie crocheted her own wedding dress. Before the wedding, Steven came to Cheryl and Tim and asked if he could join the family. Tim, never shying away from a moment to kid around joked, "We're not adopting anymore kids!"; and
     WHEREAS, This tragic accident has left Jamie, a law student at Seattle University, and Steven, a software developer at Microsoft, with the challenge to walk on their own again, and has left Jessie, an elementary teacher at Frank Love Elementary in Bothell, with a spinal-cord injury that will require months of intensive therapy. Jeremy was released from the hospital within days, and at his parents' memorial, he promised his mom and dad that he would take care of his sisters and brother-in-law; and
     WHEREAS, Jamie, Steven, Jeremy, and Jessie recognize the long road ahead. They believe that goodness can come out of tragedies; and
     WHEREAS, Jamie, Steven, Jeremy, and Jessie are fighters. Tim and Cheryl Owen taught their children to be strong. Their conditions are improving, using the strength they learned to continue on;
     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Senate recognize the Owen family and honor Tim and Cheryl Owen for their service to community, their passion for life, and their legacy of love.