Tragedy at Stevens Pass: 'They didn't deserve this at all'
BOTHELL, Wash. - A mother and father who were killed in front of their adult children when a tree came crashing down on their vehicle at Stevens Pass were remembered as devoted parents Saturday as friends struggled to come to terms with the tragic loss.
Tim and Cheryl Owen of Bothell were on a family outing with their three children and a son-in-law Friday when a large tree, weighed down by heavy snow, came crashing down on their Chevy Suburban as they drove through the pass.
"I know these people, and they're amazing people," says longtime family friend Kris Wilhelmy, who got to know them when Tim was her soccer coach. "They didn't deserve this at all."
She described the Owen family as inseparable, and she's not surprised they were all on a family getaway together.
"It just makes it all that more real," she says, fighting back tears. "It's such a tragedy. ... Everyone's hearts are heavy, hearing this horrible news."
The entire Owen family was driving near Leavenworth on Friday through a heavy snow that tore down power lines and trees. One of those trees crashed right into the Owen car as they drove along Highway 2.
The impact killed Tim and Cheryl in the front seat - right in front of their family in the backseat.
"It didn't seem real," says Kris.
She remembers a man who was more than just her Bothell soccer coach.
"He was basically like another father figure," she says. "He got a bunch of teenage girls to come together and really bond, especially during those teenage awkward years. That takes true talent and a really great ability to do that - that's who Tim was."
She says Tim was dedicated to much more than just his Lynnwood business. And Cheryl, a manager at Amazon, was a mom who gladly opened her home and her heart.
"They would do anything for anyone - always very caring, very generous, welcomed anyone in," says Kris.
That's how many will remember them - comforted by knowing that the Owens spent their final moments together.
"You could tell there was love there - the kind of love you would only find once in a lifetime," Kris says.
This is reportedly the second tree in the last two days to come crashing down on a car in the same area. A woman survived that first accident.
Tim and Cheryl Owen of Bothell were on a family outing with their three children and a son-in-law Friday when a large tree, weighed down by heavy snow, came crashing down on their Chevy Suburban as they drove through the pass.
"I know these people, and they're amazing people," says longtime family friend Kris Wilhelmy, who got to know them when Tim was her soccer coach. "They didn't deserve this at all."
She described the Owen family as inseparable, and she's not surprised they were all on a family getaway together.
"It just makes it all that more real," she says, fighting back tears. "It's such a tragedy. ... Everyone's hearts are heavy, hearing this horrible news."
The entire Owen family was driving near Leavenworth on Friday through a heavy snow that tore down power lines and trees. One of those trees crashed right into the Owen car as they drove along Highway 2.
The impact killed Tim and Cheryl in the front seat - right in front of their family in the backseat.
"It didn't seem real," says Kris.
She remembers a man who was more than just her Bothell soccer coach.
"He was basically like another father figure," she says. "He got a bunch of teenage girls to come together and really bond, especially during those teenage awkward years. That takes true talent and a really great ability to do that - that's who Tim was."
She says Tim was dedicated to much more than just his Lynnwood business. And Cheryl, a manager at Amazon, was a mom who gladly opened her home and her heart.
"They would do anything for anyone - always very caring, very generous, welcomed anyone in," says Kris.
That's how many will remember them - comforted by knowing that the Owens spent their final moments together.
"You could tell there was love there - the kind of love you would only find once in a lifetime," Kris says.
This is reportedly the second tree in the last two days to come crashing down on a car in the same area. A woman survived that first accident.
Oh carpo! When your time is up there's nothing you can do about it. Very sad. My heart goes out to the family.
Oh man that suck!!!! RIP.................I can see it now, there will soon be a motion to ban all assault trees.
 @dkgiovenco way to turn it political.Â
Thoughts and prayers to the family. Sorry to hear about that.
So sorry.
Not a matter of "deserving"..
I have avoided some residential streets lined by huge trees when they are laden with heavy snow.
Or drive down the center away from being beneath branches on both sides of the street.
The headline says it all: They didn't deserve this.Â
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God bless this family. Surviving this accident and living with the image of your parents dying in the car seat ahead of you? Unfathomably sad to imagine. God bless them all.Â
My condolences to the family and friends. It is so hard to lose loved ones around holidays because every year there is such a big reminder. It sounds like they were wonderful people who touched many lives and their death is a great loss to everyone.
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 @HarryJuku God bless those trying to make a mockery of a family's sad and tragic moment in time. I am sure they could care less what you think however, HarryJuku. Trust me...
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 @HarryJuku  You are the consummate typical unfeeling, heartless, uncaring leftist loon. You revel in the blood of others at every turn. Your are shameful and pathetic.
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so terribly sad, prayers for the family.
How sad. Prayers for their children.
Condolences to all of the family, my heart is heavy for your loss. Â Prayers that you find so peace especially at this time of year.....
Dear Owens family - May you find peace and comfort while dealing with the loss of  your loved ones. I'm so sorry for your loss.
What a horrible tragedy. My heart goes out to the family and friends.
How very, very sad... If it had to happen, though, at least they were together, and I think, had they been my parents, that would have been very comforting to me... Â
Rest in peace, Tim and Cheryl Owen... Â
My condolences go to the family and friends for their loss...may they find comfort and solace in the memories of the time and love that they shared with this couple...
How horrible. It's one thing to have you parents die unexpectedly but to be sitting in the same car when it happens is beyond anything I can think of.
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They seem to be finding the positive in that the were there when their parents died so they didn't die alone.
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I can only hope that they don't have ongoing issues with this down the road. The mind has a nasty way of replaying images that are not ones that we want to remember some times.
 @RalphCramden It is a very horrible thing. In late November 2 years ago, my Canadian cousin & his wife were driving home in snowy conditions with 4 of their 5 sons (ages 7 - 16) in their mini van after attending a martial arts competition. Sadly, a young woman lost control & hit them head on killing herself, my cousin & his wife instantly. They were both only 38 years old. 1 of the boys was paralyzed from the waist down, 1 has mild brain damage, and the other 2 had minor injuries. The oldest boy, only 19 at the time and not with them, is now raising his 4 brothers with help from my Aunt. When I heard their recollection of the accident, I had to use every ounce of my strength not to be sick from the thoughts of the horror they experienced. The boys are all doing as well as can be expected now but they will never be the same emotionally as they were before the accident. I wish this family all the love & support they could ever want & need. Healing will take time and, to be brutally honest, I don't think you can ever fully heal from something like this.
 @Kymberlie2873Â
Sorry about your family. It really is a horrible thing when most of the time we expect things to go just fine.
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I had a good friend and co-worker who lost both parents who were only in their mid 40's.
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In my lifetime I have had a lot of family die but they were old and death is expected. I did have a nephew die if SIDS but he was pretty young and I did not really bond with him. We use coping mechanisms to shield us from the pain many times and all of us have different ways of dealing with it. My wife laughs in times of stress. Some think she is insensitive but she feels it more than others most of the time.
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You are correct on never really healing in tragedies like yours. But time does reduce the pain and memories fade.
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My son has severe schizophrenia and he disappears every now and then. The last time he was gone for 6 years with no contact. We had no idea if he was dead or alive. Then he shows up and we got to see him for about 5 years. Now he is shutting down and won't return his calls. Thankfully his cell phone is one I can track and we know where he is. It is a risk because if he knew we could track him he would just throw it away. But we have to know where our son is.
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I know this is not about me and my situation but knowing that are others experiencing the same kind of pain is somehow comforting. It keeps us from thinking we are not alone on our pain.
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So hang in there and have the best Christmas you can and look for the positive.
This is so awful. Â They seemed like good people, my sincere condolences to the family.
My sincere condolences to the family and friends. These folks sound like the kind we need more of in this world.