Dr. Lynne Karolee Owens
August 20, 1939 – April 7, 2026
Dr Lynne Karolee Owens was born 8/20/1939 to Zelma and Rusell Owens in Manatee Florida. She outlived Manatee Florida as it was incorporated into Bradenton Florida. She is survived by her brother Rusell Owens, sisters Elaine Owens, Maryland Owens and Sandy Dittenber.
She married Lloyd M Swartz and had one son Lloyd O Swartz, now 57. She divorced and returned to college at Texas A&M securing a Doctorate of Wildlife and Fishery sciences, turning her love of birds and wildlife into a career of conducting endangered species research. She was fiercely independent, proud of her son and loved the Olympic Peninsula. She made Shelton WA her home for 27 years.
A celebration of life will be held at Hurricane Ridge the end of June of 2026 followed by a gathering at Robin Hood in Union WA. Donations may be made to The Mason County Kitten Rescue in lieu of flowers.
After a number of years of poor health, she turned that fierce independence into a deciding to leave this life on her own terms. Her best friend Linda Saunders, Son Lloyd Swartz and loving sister Elaine Owens were at her side as she passed.
She was a great fan of the drama of Opera, and an accomplished poet. Writing her own autobiography in the form of a poem:
SUMMATION
By L Karolee Owens
November 2025
I am old and ready to go,
Hoping for new revelations,
But I have had a good run,
Some of it fun,
Some not so,
Some extraordinary,
Mostly ordinary,
Some of it best forgot..
Many roads have I traveled,
Some paved some graveled,
Some dusty or muddy with ruts,
Many forks I have taken,
Were badly mistaken,
Other serendipitous.
Many pets I have loved,
That have gone before,
Will greet me again,
Beyond deaths door,
And we’ll travel the Rainbow Bridge together,
To the farther shore.
If I have offended,
It was never intended,
And I submit my deep apologies,
What comes from ignorance, anger or pain,
May not easily recalled be again,
So I beg your forgiveness please.
We cannot know what happens,
When we leave this earthly plain,
Some with faith say ever more,
Some say never more,
Some with hope, say maybe more,
I can only hope for the best,
Other forces will take care of the rest,
But I hope to see you all when you, too, come home.
So now I am old and ready to go,
Hoping for new revelations,
And as I take my leave,
I ask you not to grieve,
Or shed too many a tear,
But consider instead,
The journey I have had,
And the life I have lived,
And celebrate my having been here.
Moms Spirit Takes Flight
By Lloyd Swartz
April 2026
In the twilight of life’s grand opera,
As the final notes begin to fade,
A symphony of feathers and whispers,
In memories of love, you’ve beautifully played.
With your heart attuned to the sky,
You watched the dance of winged delight,
From alpine heights to valleys low,
You cherished each bird in joyous flight.
At Hurricane Ridge, where eagles soar,
Your spirit will blend with the mountain breeze, A legacy of wonder, wisdom, and lore,
As nature sings its eternal melodies.
Though sorrow fills the hearts left behind,
Your laughter echoes through every song, In the rustle of leaves and the call of the wild, In the harmony of life, you will always belong.
So, dear mother, take your final bow, As the curtain falls on this earthly sphere, With opera’s grace and nature’s vow, Your love remains, forever near.