Nancy Lee Owens

Nancy Lee Owens, 68, of McLean, Virginia, passed away peacefully on May 11th, 2026, leaving behind a legacy of compassion and generosity.

A proud native Washingtonian, Nancy was born on July 16th, 1957, the beloved and devoted daughter of Paul Everett and Barbara Lent Owens, along with her sisters Robin, Christie, and Linda “Susie”. Nancy’s lifelong passion for flora and fauna blossomed when she was just a little girl. The Owens household was always filled with plants and animals – birds, turtles, dogs, and cats abounded.

Growing up in Washington, D.C., Nancy attended Woodrow Wilson High School and went on to graduate from Mount Vernon College. Nancy loved her studies, always seeking to instill in others the importance of lifelong learning, curiosity, and growth.

Nancy’s passion for helping others was evident in her career as a Child Life Specialist. Shortly after graduating from college, she moved to St. Petersburg, Florida, to pursue her passion for helping children. There, friendships and adventure awaited. Nancy had a remarkable ability to move toward emotional intensity and suffering, bringing joy and humanity to children and families in their darkest days. Nancy’s deep empathy and courage in the face of grief were a theme throughout her life. Her devotion to others led her to become a formative member of an organization offering comfort to parents who experienced the death of their baby during pregnancy or after birth.

Nancy adored and continued working with children throughout her life, forging lasting bonds with students at Westgate Elementary School as the school’s Health Aide for over 20 years, a role she retired from last year. At Westgate, Nancy formed a corps of deeply loving volunteers, all of whom shared Nancy’s vision of going above and beyond to improve the lives and futures of Westgate’s children.

The list of organizations Nancy supported through volunteerism and donation was numerous – Pimmit Dairy Barn, Save Evans Farm, The Nature Conservancy, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, WETA, St. Jude, and American Red Cross, to name a few.

Nancy returned to Virginia to embrace her most prized role, as a mother. As Brynn and Alexis’s mother, Nancy was the mom who cheered her daughters on at every game, attended every event, helped with every homework assignment, and created delectable vegetarian dishes and desserts every day. Despite a life with various battles, Nancy never once wavered from raising her daughters to be the best people they could be. She became a grandmother for the first time last year to baby girl Quinn.

Nancy was deeply loved by her family and friends, maintaining relationships across all aspects of her life. She will be remembered for her bravery, strength, and whimsical spirit, as well as the deep love and care she gave so freely to others.

Nancy is survived by her daughters, Brynn Margaret Park (Robert) and Alexis Owens Wicker (William Benjamin), and her sister Robin Owens Harding.

A celebration of life will be held this summer.