Owene Phillips Hall Weber died peacefully on July 28, 2018. She was born September 6, 1934, in Chattanooga, Tennessee, to Owene and Dawson Hall. She was graduated from Girls Preparatory School in Chattanooga, attended Sophie Newcomb College in New Orleans, and earned a Bachelor of Arts in French and Master of Arts in Teaching from Jacksonville University.
She taught at St. Johns Country Day School until 1982 when she retired and pursued a Doctor of Philosophy in Irish Literature at the University of Florida. In that pursuit, she secured the personal papers of Irish author Frank O’Connor for the University of Florida. She lectured at the University of Cork on “The Women of Frank O’Connor” which was the title of her doctoral thesis.
While completing her thesis, she and her cousin Thad purchased a house in Landgrove, Vermont where they spent much time and made many friends. Even when she wasn’t there, her spirit was in Landgrove, “always there among the trees”. Owene was truly a Renaissance woman.
She was the head of the English Department at St. Johns, she taught English Literature at the University of North Florida, the University of Florida and she taught at Flagler College in St. Augustine where she pioneered the Women’s Studies program and the Sigma Tau Delta National English Honors Society. She coached the Flagler Women’s Cross-Country Team, leading them to two district championships. She played the piano all of her life until her final days.
She also played the harp and the organ. She ran marathons; she smocked clothing for her grandchildren; she published three books, including Vision: The Story of St. Johns Country Day School; she illustrated all 150 psalms; she instilled in others the love for learning and the pursuit of excellence. Owene was a woman of prayer and intellect.
Fiercely independent and wickedly funny, she struck a beautiful balance between propriety and practicality. No one remained a stranger to her for very long. She cultivated friendships with everyone she met.
She had many “best friends”. She was preceded in death by her parents Owene and Dawson Hall and her husband Lawrence Kirkwood Weber Jr She is survived by her brother Dawson Hall and his family, her cousin and dearest friend Thad Crapster, five children, four children-in-law, eleven grandchildren, six grandchildren-in-law, and ten great grandchildren, all of whom loved and respected her deeply and will miss her forever.
She loved her family very much and very well. She also leaves a multitude of cousins, friends and students who will never be the same for having known her. A family service will be held at St. Margaret’s Hibernia on Saturday, August 11th at ten o’clock in the morning.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to St. Johns Country Day School, Orange Park, Florida. “I am Myn Owene Woman: wel at ese”.
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