Viva Carol McKay Owens

Viva McKay was born in Hibbing, Minnesota where her grandparents settled when they immigrated from New Richmond, Quebec, Canada. Her early years included a number of moves until the family settled in Tulsa, OK where her dad's extended family now reside. Her family's faith, known as Plymouth Brethren, was an integral part of their lives, with weekly gatherings in her grandparents' home. Her three brothers were born in Tulsa, but her family was living in Atlanta, GA when she graduated from high school and began college at Georgia State. It was in the summer of 1960 that she met Jerry Owens at Mid South Bible Conference in Tennessee. When Jerry was called to active duty in the Army, she and Jerry were reacquainted through mutual friends while he was stationed at Ft. Benning, GA. They were married later that year and were stationed at North Camp Drake, Japan. While in Japan, Viva finished her degree through the Univ. of Maryland, Far East Division. She also taught English in Tokyo and preschool at the military school on base.
After leaving Japan, the Owens moved to Mississippi where Jerry was in graduate school. Their elder daughter, Joy, was born in Starkville. Following school, Jerry went to work for IBM in Huntsville, AL, where Jan completed the family. In 1970, IBM moved them to Boca, where Viva's love of the ocean could flourish with frequent trips to the beach with her two little daughters.
One of Viva's loves was Christian missions. As a teenager, she served for a summer in the Bahamas and was always active in women's missions affairs at Boca Raton Community Church (Bibletown). She represented her church on an extended missions trip to China, and she and Jerry served together for a year in Russia with the CoMission following the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Viva received a second Bachelor's degree from FAU and a Master's in gifted education from Nova University and taught elementary school for about 15 years, the majority being at Boca Raton Christian School.
Viva predeceases her husband Jerry, her daughter Joy Guliani and granddaughter Acadia, her daughter Jan Kral and grandchildren Lora and John Jr., all of whom fully expect to see her again in God's timing.
Viva's brothers, George McKay of Nokesville, VA, John McKay of Kingsport, TN, and Joe McKay of Birmingham, AL, and her sister Sherrie Evans of Littleton, CO, as well as sixteen nieces and nephews also survive her. She was predeceased by her nephew, Raymond McKay, USMC.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Viva's memory may be sent to the scholarship fund at Boca Raton Christian School by mail to 470 NW 4th Avenue Boca Raton, FL 33432 or online at https://brcs-fl.client.renweb.com/renweb/donateonline/Web/System_campaign.cfm?District=BRCS-FL&SchoolCode=&CampaignID=7