RAY Owen, who served Brisbane archdiocese for many years as a loyal and dedicated journalist, has died at the age of 81.
Mr Owen died at The Wesley Hospital in Brisbane on October 15 after a long illness.
He had worked as a senior journalist at The Catholic Leader for more than two decades from 1981, retiring in September 2002.
He’d had a long and distinguished career in journalism, starting with a cadetship at a newspaper in Griffith, NSW.
He then had stints as a journalist at the Border Morning Mail in Albury, NSW, and in Canberra, where he edited a newspaper, before moving to Brisbane to join The Catholic Leader in 1981.
Des Lavey, who knew Mr Owen professionally as well as a friend, neighbour and fellow member of the Darra Jindalee parish, was among those paying tribute to the journalist.
Mr Lavey, who worked for Queensland Catholic Education Commission, had regular dealings with Mr Owen when he was with The Catholic Leader.
Mr Lavey admired Mr Owen for his diligence as a senior journalist and for the quality of his writing.
He remembered Mr Owen’s outstanding work in explaining complex issues backed by in-depth research.
“The other thing, as a person, (Ray) was a very humble man,” Mr Lavey said.
Away from work, he recalled how Mr Owen would work for the community in simple, practical ways.
“He picked me up from the local Darra station one day, and we went past a particular intersection, and he said, ‘That road’s got to be changed, because that’s …’, and so we now call it ‘Ray’s Corner’,” Mr Lavey said.
“He wrote to the council and they actually did what he asked.
“As a person, I just felt he was very, very kind and thoughtful … He’s a person who people could look up to.
“Ray was a very devout man (of faith) … (and) he was involved in what was happening, and he was interested.
“He was a good father, a very good father, as well as a good husband.”
Mr Owen is survived by his wife Margaret, son Mark, daughter-in-law Angela, two granddaughters, and his sister Mary.
He and Mrs Owen celebrated their 54th wedding anniversary on October 1.
