Emma Forrey Owen

Emma Forrey Owen was born January 23, 1953, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania a beloved daughter of Violet M. Forrey and the late Charles H. Forrey. She departed this life on October 28, 2011, in the loving care of her husband David and surrounded by loved ones Charles David Owen, son and Jessica Moreland, Charles's girlfriend.

Emma was an employee of the Kent City Schools for 34 years as a teacher and coach. She was Student Activities Coordinator for 26 years at Roosevelt High School. She was a member of Kappa Delta Gamma and active in Leadership Portage County playing a key role in the formation of Youth Leadership Portage County. Emma was inducted into the Kent City Schools Hall of Fame Class of 2011. She was a member of the Kent United Church of Christ and served on the Outreach Committee.

Emma knew that vision helps make life good. Attending to detail that accompanies the vision is what makes life great. Emma was about greatness, not for herself but for getting important work done well. She often said, "It does not matter who gets the credit, just that the job gets done and people work as a team". As a coach, teacher, and mentor she lived for the success of all students. For 34 years she was a dynamic force in the Kent City Schools. She once wrote, "I didn't expect to get so immersed in my job (teaching and coaching) that it became a lifestyle. Thank goodness my husband shared a similar philosophy of involvement". She served nine years as field hockey coach at Theodore Roosevelt High School in Kent and won the state championship with the 1981 team. Emma's passion and vision was leadership and student engagement. As Roosevelt Activities Coordinator, Emma touched the lives of over 10,000 students in her career. She believed in and started many clubs, leadership retreats and activities as ways of encouraging co-curricular leadership and engagement opportunities for students. For Emma, teaching and mentoring kept her enthusiastically involved seven days a week. She believed that student activities contributed greatly to the school climate of student trust, leadership, respect, friendliness and inclusiveness that exists at Roosevelt High School today.

Her contributions in life have led former students to write, "I remember you told me something very important that has stuck with me: 'Teaching is not a job, it's a lifestyle.' Because of you and the impact you had...I have chosen teaching as my lifestyle and I hope that the way in which I live it every day would make you proud." A former field hockey player wrote of her success, "The school I coached at...has decided to induct me into their Athletic Hall of Fame. Heck Emma, you coached someone who followed in your footsteps of being the best they could be as a coach. I experienced it with you and then I did it too!" After the loss of a student election one student wrote, "You pulled me aside, looked me in the eye and said, 'This doesn't mean that you can't still be involved. Don't give up.' You saw potential in me when I was too upset to see it in myself. But you didn't stop at the pep talk. You started to get involved me in activities. There is no way I can truly pay you back for all the things you have given me. The only thing I might do is to continue to live by your example."

We live in sadness with the loss of Emma and with the knowledge and hope that she will be a part of our living memory, a part of our cloud of encouraging witnesses.

The family would like to thank Robinson Visiting Nurse and Hospice for their loving care and support.

In addition to her husband and son, Emma is survived by her sister, Mary Lou Forrey of Coatesville, Pennsylvania; brothers, John Charles Forrey (Gloria) of Ephrata, Pennesylvania and Robert Stephen Forrey (Cathy) of Denver, Colorado; her beloved mother-in-law, Doris R. Owen of North Ft. Myers, Florida; sister-in-Iaw, Barbara O'Riordan (William) of Chagrin Falls; her many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.

She will be greatly missed by a host of close friends and colleagues of Kent City Schools and the hundreds of alumni of Theodore Roosevelt High School that she taught, coached, and mentored in a host of co-curricular activities or leadership positions at the school.

There will be a Celebration of Emma's Life, 11:00 AM Saturday, November 12th, at the United Church of Christ in Kent, where a gathering will be held from 10:00 AM until the time of service. In lieu of flowers donations may be in Emma's memory to the Emma Owen Student Activities Fund, c/o Kent City Schools, 321 N. DePeyster Street, Kent, Ohio 44240.