Elsie "Betty" Elizabeth Owen

Elsie "Betty" Elizabeth Owen, age 92, of Marianna, FL, passed away on Sunday, April 5, 2026 at Northwest Florida Community Hospital in Chipley, FL.

Betty was born on December 11, 1933 in Tennessee to the late Margaret Lumsden Newman, and Earl Newman. 

Betty married David Owen in 1951, and they had two daughters. Her husband's Engineering work took them to South Florida, where Betty had an active life for many decades, enjoying the theater, arts, and mixed culture of a growing South Florida. 

In 1964, she obtained her Masters of English from the University of Miami. Betty joined the faculty of Broward College in 1964 where she was beloved by students and staff for her genuine concern for her students' education and happiness. Betty was also an inspiration and mentor to all of her fellow professors during her career at Broward.

Betty enjoyed the arts. She had been an editor on her high school yearbook, and for many years was the faculty sponsor of Broward College's literary magazine, P'an-ku. Betty encouraged student creativity and exploration of art and culture through their creative works published in P'an-ku. 

In 1965, Betty became involved in Broward's geography and history departments and helped sponsor a month-long Brazilian student exchange program.

Betty later traveled to Malaysia for a month where she represented the Broward College International Course Center in Malaysia. Betty traveled extensively in the U.S., and overseas to Mexico, Europe, Russia, and South Africa, on student trips, with her family, and with her fellow professors with whom she shared the passion for learning, discovery, and teaching. 

In 1977, Betty Owen, along with Marzi Kaplan, founded the South Florida Poetry Institute in conjunction with sponsorships from Broward College, the city of Hollywood, Florida, and The Hollywood Art and Culture Center. This organization became a place for poets to connect, attend workshops, and attend poetry readings.

Betty and her husband bought a sailboat in 1967. They sailed for a decade of summer breaks with their family throughout the Bahamas. 

Betty retired from teaching in 1994, though was drawn back to teaching several years later. She retired a second time from teaching at age 80. 

Betty moved to Jackson County in 2019 to be with her daughter and granddaughter. Even though her travel was limited as she grew older, she took her first Cruise Ship adventure with her family through the Panama Canal and Central American countries at the end of 2019. COVID 19 kept her from further travels, though she enjoyed the company of her friends and family in Marianna. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, siblings, and her husband. 

Betty is survived by her loving daughters, Patricia Michel and Dianne Owen and Son-In Law, Bill Neilson; brother in-Law, Larry Dorsey and one grandchild, Christine Michel, and a large extended family of many nieces, nephews, and their families. 

Memorial Services will be held at Springhill Funeral Home and Cemetery at 3 P.M., Saturday April 25th CST in Nashville, TN.

Arrangements are entrusted to the Lambe family at Marianna Chapel Funeral Home.

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