A packed lobby at Marc’s Tattooing buzzed with emotion, remembrance, and purpose on Saturday as family, friends, and community members came together to honor the life of Jon Owens, a beloved body piercer whose impact went far beyond the shop.
Two years after Owens died by suicide, his family and colleagues organized a flash tattoo and piercing fundraiser to both celebrate his memory and raise awareness for suicide prevention. The event supported the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and the family of Neil Husvar, another local figure lost to suicide.
“Jon was someone you could talk to. Anyone who came into the shop was touched immediately by his energy and positivity,” said Chelsea Owens, Jon’s wife. “He was so passionate about piercing and this shop. It was more than work — this was his family.”
Now, Chelsea and their son Tay continue to carry that spirit forward, greeting guests and keeping Jon’s legacy alive.
Among the many who showed up was longtime customer Joyce Davenport, who had nearly every piercing done by Jon — from nose to navel. On Saturday, she got another piercing, along with a memorial tattoo, contributing to the cause.
“You don’t want to see somebody’s death be in vain or forgotten,” said Chelsea Owens. “We all want to carry on those legacies. This is a really positive way to be able to do that and honor him.”
The event featured a series of flash tattoo designs — many incorporating semicolons, the well-known symbol of mental health awareness. The semicolon represents the continuation of life despite struggle, a metaphor taken from literature where an author uses a semicolon instead of ending a sentence.
“It’s something that affects everyone, indirectly or directly,” Chelsea said. “The importance of events like this is opening the conversation. It needs to be talked about.”
That openness, she added, could be lifesaving.
“We watch people and think there are signs or things we missed. But it’s not cut and dry — everybody’s story is different,” she said. “Being a support to your friends, keeping that connection and communication — that’s the most important thing you can do for anyone struggling with their mental health.”
In a space filled with ink, memories, and hope, one message resonated above all: the story isn’t over.
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