Gosh, it’s so hard to believe that you have been gone for 5 years already. Some days it seems like it was yesterday! 
Nothing is the same anymore without you. 
Everyone is trying to get by but it’s just not the same without your amazing smile and wit. Your energy and your laughter was what made people happy for days. When I see blue butterflies 🦋 I think of you. I don’t know why. I think they are your spirit animal. Love you ❤️

It’s hard to believe it has been 5 years since you died buddy. Rest In Peace. 

Hi Ed, 
May care and love of those around you provide comfort and peace to get you through the days ahead. My most sincere condolences. May God give him eternal rest.

-Kyle Dunn

Owen, I have no words when we first met at lunch in high school I thought you seemed cool and outgoing and always had a smile on your face. I loved you like a brother, although the time was short I would redue every second of it because you always tried to put a smile on a face. I remember always sitting at lunch with our friends and you wanting to play card games, although you would always beat me you’d give me a chance to win. You were the most honest person you could talk to, I would make jokes with him and he would make jokes. He was hands down my favorite person at the table and I wish he knew we were all here for him and wish we could all hang out as friends again one more time

I don’t have words I’m lost and speechless, I’m still trying to wrap my head around this and I wish I could talk to him one more time. He meant everything to the school and our friends.

I love you owen, take care good pal

Ryan

We had a wonderful trip down the Caney Fork in kayaks. 

Hi Ed

During the short time that we have worked together I believe that I got to know the good person that you are and from our many conversations the extent to which you cared for your family.

I pray that god may provide you and your family the comfort and peace to get you through the days ahead. 

My most sincere condolences.

-Sumeet Bhagirathee

To Owen's Family, 

I am so sorry for you loss. I pray that god gives you all strength and peace during this difficult time. Owen was such an incredible person and he will be missed greatly, by me and all of our governor school. I first met Owen last year and quickly learned what an amazing person he was. He reminded me so much of my little brother and it hurts and pains me to think that he is no longer here with us. He had this aura  which always managed to bring smiles to mine and everyone's faces. 

My favorite memory would be when I asked him to "prom" using a Pokemon promposal. He knew that I would be asking him as we had talked about it before but he didn't know that I would stay up late working on it only to ask him in front of our entire stem in society class during break. That night at prom, he was too shy to dance and I made sure to never let him forget it throughout the rest of our time at governor school (although he did actually dance with me for a bit). I would do anything to have one last conversation with Owen, letting him know that he is loved and that I am always here for him. I hope he knows that I couldn't have asked for a better dance partner at prom. 

The memories and love that I have for Owen will always rest within my heart. 

My most sincere condolences, 
Inara Devji 

Admittedly, I did not know him for very long, or as well as I perhaps would've liked. But in the brief time that I knew him, he brought me so much joy. He had a way with words and a humor that just made you laugh, whether you meant to or not. And he liked laughter, illicited by others or by himself. He laughed at most anything. And when you first hear him laugh all you want to do is just hear it again. It made you want to know everything about him, from his life philosophy to his favorite book. The more you knew about him the more you wanted to know. He was that kind of person. What else? He was brilliant, and kind of a show off but a well deserved one, because he really was that smart. He didn't like tying his shoelaces for some weird reason. Even though he pretended not to care about people, he did, and he cared a lot. He liked being dramatic, whether in life or in writing. He watched Twilight and secretly didn't hate it. He liked dark blue. He really liked anime. I'm really sorry that he's gone. 

As a classmate and friend of Owen, I will never forget the memories we shared. He was an optimistic, kind-hearted person who always brightened the mood of those he was around. Not once in the time that I knew him did he not smile at me. He was an amazing friend who was always willing to listen, chat, and joke around. Owen was one the brightest, smartest kids I’d ever met and never failed to astonish me with the things he could accomplish. He was full of great potential and an eager learner, one that I aspire to be like. Words cannot express my devastation for him. It all feels so unreal to lose such an inspiring, wonderful person. I miss you Owen and you will always be in my thoughts and prayers.


Owen is truly an inspiring soul. His love for learning and love for education is so passionate and real. After spending 3 years with him in high school, I can honestly say he is such a strong, independent, and driven student that I can only hope to be. He has such a brilliant mind that constantly seeks growth, and I am envious for his deep rooted passion for learning. Whether it was his math skills or his elegant essays, he always impressed. I will never forget when Owen gave me the most uplifting advice about my invitation to NSLC: he told me to attend the conference especially after creating memories of his own. He reassured that my experience would be positive.

Sending love and peace during this time.

I did not know Owen very well or for very long. We had the same class together for three years, and in that time all we ever exchanged were small words and smiles. I knew him by his laugh. I knew him as the boy in front of me in the lunch line, the boy I would pass in the hallway who would always ask me how I was, how my classes and friends were. I knew him as the boy with the open heart and caring soul—and that was all I ever knew of him. When I heard the news I was heartbroken, devastated. He brought so much light and happiness to me and many others through the simplest, most mundane of moments. The small words, the smiles at the most unexpected of times touched me in such a profound, inexplicable way. I wish I had the chance to tell him this, how much goodness he brought into the world. To Launna, his friends, his parents, the Atkinson’s: The loss you are facing is of no comparison. What I knew of him and how long I knew him is brief, but still I have faced so much grief over his passing. I cannot begin to fathom how it must feel to lose a brother, a son, a friend. I can offer no words great enough to peace. You have been and will continue to be in my thoughts and prayers. I am so sorry. 

Hi Ed & Jane - 

I am so incredibly saddened to hear this news.  I know we haven't spoken in quite some time and I'm sad to reach out under these circumstances.    I know there are no words to make this better.  I will be praying for your family.  

Sincerely,
Sabrina Filer
Cummins

To the family, 
You are all surrounded with so much love. I can’t express my condolences enough. You are all heavy on my heart and in my thoughts and prayers. Owen was one of my dear friends. He always made jokes and made me laugh. He always knew how to cheer anyone up who was feeling down. He was a shining light in my day, and I am so lucky, so grateful and honored to have known him and to be friends with him.
On my 17th birthday, he showed up to school with two giant boxes of Mac and Cheese as my present. It was so simple, but the most thoughtful gift I had gotten, he knew it would make me laugh and smile, he knew it was my absolute favorite. He always thought about others and was so kind and compassionate. He will continue to be loved and always missed. 
Thank you for being the best of friends Owen, thank you for making me laugh and smile. Thank you for helping me in school and always pushing me to be the best that I could be because you saw that I could do it. I’ll miss you dearly. 

Jane,
There are no words that can express your loss. I still remembered what a bright and courteous young man he was when we last met in Shanghai during 2015. It was a great reunion for all three of our boys. The last time we met Owen was when he was three and he was just a lively as he was than.  My boys really liked his personality and they enjoyed playing games with him. Even now, my youngest boy said, "I would have never expected such a bright young man to have left this earth so early in his life". But "When you lose someone you love, you gain an angel you know", and that angel will be with you always.
-Lei Sun

Please know your family is in our hearts and prayers.   We are here for you so do not hesitate to call if you need to talk, cry or sit in silence with friends.   We are asking God our Father to send his comforting angels to provide peace to you, your family, and friends, as well as, friends and classmates of Luanna and Owen.  

In Love,

Joe and Sandy 

To the Family,

My condolences to the family on the passing of your dear beloved Owen. I know that this is a very difficult time for you as death is an enemy to all of us. The lost of a precious family member and the pain that we experience from that lost is not easy. May you find comfort and strength in Jehovah God’s words at Revelation 21:4, which gives us a sure promise that death will be no more, neither will mourning, nor outcry, nor pain be anymore. I pray that He will grant you peace at this most  difficult time. I am so sorry.

OBITUARY

Owen Shen Atkinson

July 18, 2001 – July 18, 2018

Woodlawn-Roesch-Patton Funeral Home & Woodlawn Memorial Park

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