Pictures of Chris at Sara's Birthday Party

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The Daily Utah Chronicle Article

Student musician will be missed

Michael McFall

Staff Writer

Published: Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Updated: Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Christopher Owens

Korin Owens no longer hears her son’s piano music filling the house.

She used to stop and listen to the music. She would wander the house until she found her son, Christopher Warren Owens, playing from memory.

Korin Owens’ family will remember Thursday, in the words of Don McLean, as the day the music died. Owens, a 20-year-old sophomore at the U, committed suicide last week. He is survived by his parents, Warren and Korin, his brother Cameron and his sisters Jessica, Erica and April.

“His music was his love, it came totally natural for him,” Korin Owens said. Owens, who played the piano, guitar and bass guitar, could hear any sound, musical or not, and name its pitch, note or chord progression, she said. He even memorized 48 guitar songs within a matter of days, a demand he met for a neighborhood band, Jaboom, in which he played bass. He also took home armfuls of high awards from music festivals, which helped earn him a scholarship at the U, she said.

Lindsey Lambert, a junior in music, said though she never knew Owens, she heard amazing stories of his melodies filling the music hall.

Owens’ music was used in the background of a 2005 Sundance Film Festival entry. The sound track was a five-piece guitar score. Everyone thought it sounded like an orchestra, when in fact Owens had composed and played all five parts and mixed them together, said Mike Toronto, his friend and neighbor.

“Ironically enough, the movie he wrote it for was about preventing suicide,” Toronto said.

After seven years of playing guitar and more than a decade at the piano, Owens had developed chronic back pain eight months ago, on top of developing clinical depression at age 17.

During one performance, he had to lie down on his back the whole time. Not long ago, he finally told his mother about it, but by then it was a little too late, she said. Despite going to several doctors and diligently following their regimens, the pain forced him to change his major from music to chemical engineering last semester.

“He was pretty silent about his pain,” Korin Owens said. “We had to dig deep to figure it out.”

Owens’ death is the second in the past three weeks for the Owens family, after Matthew Buhler, a family friend, committed suicide Jan. 16. Korin Owens said she beseeches friends and family to watch their loved ones closely for any signs of problems and to be open with them, and show them all the love in the world.

“Just always make sure that you know that you let them know how you feel, and that they are the most valuable person you can imagine,” she said.

m.mcfall@chronicle.utah.edu

(http://www.dailyutahchronicle.com/news/student_musician_will_be_missed-1.1361461)

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Goodbye Pork Pie Hat

Dear Blogosphere,

I have a couple of songs to recommend today. These are chosen with Chris in mind:

*Charlie Mingus - Goodbye Pork Pie Hat
*Ben Folds Five - Magic
*Chantal Kreviazuk - Surrounded

Since I'm guessing most everyone reading this are friends, I want you to know that I am always there for you. Rain, shine, or overcast. This weekend was really hard. I can say with relative certainty that the impact Chris had on our lives is going to continue to ripple through the sea of humanity. I love you all.

-Natalie

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Christopher Warren Owens

Dear Blogosphere,

Here is Chris' obituary. We're all going to miss him a lot. He was a very friendly and funny guy and an amazing musician.

Christopher Warren Owens 1988 ~ 2009 Our beautiful, bright, and talented son and brother, Christopher Warren Owens, passed away in his home February 5, 2009.He was born August 4, 1988, in Salt Lake City, Utah to his adoring parents Warren Duane Owens Jr. and Korin Cooper Owens. Christopher graduated with honors, in June of 2007, from Highland High School and thereafter was enrolled at the University of Utah on a scholarship. He was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was an extraordinary young man beyond measure who had the soul of a man well past his years. He was extremely hard working and strove for excellence in everything he pursued. His passion for knowledge and music were remarkable. He appreciated the little things in both life and music that many people would have no understanding of. He played the guitar, the bass guitar, and the piano for many years and could make the music come to life bringing joy to his family, himself, but also lighting up the faces of anyone who was listening. He loved fitness in both mind and body and would take in as much information as he possibly could and then put it into practice in his daily life. He earned his Eagle Scout award which gave him many wonderful and memorable experiences camping with his father, leaders, and friends. It was said he was always on top of his game and encouraged the rest of the scouts to pay attention and learn. He had a big heart and wanted to make a difference in the world. His love for his family and his desire to be a good son and brother was at the fore-front of his mind everyday. He wanted all to know that he could be depended on and was very eager to please. As he grew and matured, it was never necessary to give him guidelines, as he seemed to come to this earth with it all figured out. Our hearts are broken and we will deeply miss this giant of a young man. The memories we have shared with our dear Christopher will keep our hearts uplifted and we look forward, with joy, to the day when we will all be reunited in the presence of our Savior. Christopher is survived by his parents Warren and Korin Owens, brother Cameron Owens (Ashley), sisters Jessica Hickman (Mike), Erica (18) and April (11); grandparents Keith and JoAnne Cooper, Robbie Owens, a beloved nephew, and many aunts, uncles and cousins. He was privileged to have several close friends namely, Jeff, Chad, Mike, Jared, Josh and many others. He is preceded in death by his grandfather, Warren Duane Owens Sr. A viewing will held Sunday February 8, 2009 from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at the Salt Lake Highland Stake Center located at 2738 South Filmore Street in Salt Lake City, Utah. A viewing prior to the funeral services will be held 10:00 - 10:45 a.m. on February 9th 2009. Funeral services will begin at 11:00 a.m. thereafter. The interment will be at the Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park & Mortuary in Salt Lake City, Utah (enter from 3300 South).

(http://www.legacy.com/DeseretNews/Obituaries.asp?Page=Lifestory&PersonId=123805199)

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