soul

of blessed memory

Dynamic Role Model
Who Lit Up Any Room

RONELLE GRIER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

F

aylene Owen was an accom-
plished businesswoman, a
passionate and dedicated
volunteer, and a loving and selfless
wife, mother, grandmother and
great-grandmother. Faylene, who
lived in East Lansing with her hus-
band of 31 years, Larry, died Feb. 1,
2018. She was 82.
Faylene had a remarkable career
in politics, business, and com-
munity and public service. She
was known as one of the country’s
premier fundraisers, working tire-
lessly for candidates such as Gov.
Jim Blanchard and President Bill
Clinton, who appointed her to
serve on the White House Fellows
Commission. She founded her
own marketing and government
relations company, the Mica
Corporation, where she served a
variety of clients using her out-
standing business acumen and
boundless energy.
Faylene grew up in Detroit,
where she graduated from Central
High School and attended Wayne
State University. She met Larry, a
former gubernatorial candidate,
through their shared interest in
politics, and the two spent more
than three decades enjoying world
travels and special family time.
“She had the highest EQ (emo-
tional quotient) of anyone I ever
met,” Larry said. “She was the kind
of person who lit up any room she
walked into.”
The couple’s happiness increased
as their family grew to include chil-
dren’s spouses, whom were warmly
welcomed into the fold, grandchil-
dren and great-grandchildren. Her
house was like a second home where
the kids and their friends were
always welcome; nothing was off lim-
its as long as it made them happy.

Owen

Her grandson Eric Hughey,
who spoke at the funeral service,
remembered her childlike exuber-
ance and ability to relate to chil-
dren on their level.
“She was larger than life … she
had ‘it,’ that special something, and
her magic would rub off on those
around her,” Eric said.
Despite her many interests and
commitments, she always put her
family first, providing uncondition-
al love and support whenever she
was needed.
“My mother was an amazing role
model, a dynamic woman,” said
daughter Cindy Hughey. “She never
sat on the sidelines but personally
got involved to make things hap-
pen … I learned there was nothing I
couldn’t do.”
Faylene served as a trustee of
Michigan State University for eight
years, where she mentored stu-
dents and advocated for their con-
cerns. She was chair of the Sparrow
Hospital Foundation and served
on the board of directors of the
MSU Hillel Student Center, Child
Abuse Prevention Services and the

Children’s Miracle Network, among
many other causes. She received
the Tree of Life Award from the
Jewish National Fund.
Faylene had a unique sense of
style, and she enjoyed helping her
daughter’s friends get ready for a
special night out. She was a dedi-
cated member of a weekly poker
game. She loved to throw parties
and was adept at connecting peo-
ple from all walks of life, from bil-
lionaires to labor union members.
“The secret to her success in pro-
moting causes — political, social or
educational — was her capacity to
convince everyone that what she
was doing was real, that it came
from her heart and soul,” Larry
said.
She helped many people over
the years, from families at her chil-
dren’s school who could not afford
shoes for their children, to friends
who needed help finding a job,
without being asked and without
recognition.
“She lit up the lives of many ordi-
nary people,” Larry said.
Faylene Owen is survived by her
husband, Larry; sister, Sherry Kaye;
children, Cindy (Steven) Hughey
and Marc Curtis; stepdaughter,
Susan Owen; grandchildren,
Jennifer (Eric) Ross, Eric (Robyn)
Hughey and Jack Owen; great-
grandchildren, Isla Ross, Gavin
Ross and Cooper Hughey. She is
also remembered fondly by her
extended family and a world of col-
leagues and friends.
Contributions may be made to
the Lester and Jewell Morris Hillel
Jewish Student Center, 360 Charles
St., East Lansing, MI, 48823, www.
msuhillel.org. Arrangements by
the Estes-Leadley Greater Lansing
Chapel. •

“She was larger than life … she had ‘it,’ that special
something, and her magic would rub off on those around her.”

— ERIC HUGHEY

70

February 8 • 2018

jn

SHIRLEY ADLER, 97,
of Huntington
Woods, died Feb. 2,
2018.
She is survived by
her sons and daugh-
ters-in-law, Dr. Stuart
P. and Susan Adler,
Adler
and Jay A. and Sharon
Adler; grandchildren,
Jonathan Adler, Justin
and Andrea Adler,
David and Melody Adler, Rachel Adler
and Brent Woolwine, and Daniel
Adler; great-grandchildren, Charles
Adler, Catherine Adler, Layla Adler
and Lawson Woolwine.
Mrs. Adler was the beloved wife of
the late John Henry Adler.
Interment was at Clover Hill Park
Cemetery. Contributions may be
made to Jewish Hospice & Chaplaincy
Network, 6555 W. Maple, West
Bloomfield, MI 48322,
jewishhospice.org; or American
Cancer Society, 20450 Civic Center
Drive, Southfield, MI 48076, cancer.
org. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman
Chapel.

ISREAL “IRVING”
BAKER, 86, of West
Bloomfield, died Feb.
1, 2018.
He was active with
Friendship Circle and
Yad Ezra.
Mr. Baker is sur-
Baker
vived by his wife of 58
years, Natalie Baker;
son and daughter-
in-law, Bradley and
Janette Baker of Oak Park; daughter,
Linda Shulman of Sudbury, Mass.;
sister and brother-in-law, Ethel and
Benjamin Siegal; grandchildren,
Jared Shulman, Alissa Shulman, Sari
Shulman, Brian Baker, Joshua Baker,
David Baker; many loving nephews,
nieces and dear friends.
Mr. Baker was the loving son of the
late Esther and the late Ben Baker;
dear brother of the late Morris David
Baker.
Contributions may be made to
Friendship Circle, 6892 W. Maple
Road, West Bloomfield, MI 48322;
Hilda Schechter Home Fund at JARC,
30301 Northwestern Hwy., Farmington
Hills, MI 48334; or to a charity of one’s
choice. Interment was at Hebrew
Memorial Park. Arrangements by
Hebrew Memorial Chapel.