OLYMPIA, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – A former Washington Supreme Court justice passed away late last week.

According to Washington State Courts, Susan Owens, who retired from a 44-yearlong judicial career in December of last year, passed Friday morning at the age of 75. She was visiting family in California at the time of her death.

State Supreme Court Chief Justice Debra Stephens says that Owens’ health had been declining recently but she never lost her wit, humor or strong sense of justice.

Owens was elected to the state Supreme Court during the year 2000 general election and was the seventh woman to serve on the Court. Before her tenure, Owens served as a judge at the Clallam County District Court for 19 years.

While at the state Supreme Court, she was the first woman to retire at the mandatory age of 75.