Emma Rachel Powell, 1916 – 2011

POWELL, BYLER, SCHROCK, RENNER, BROWN, PRYCE, DOEHRMANN, YODER, ADAMS, MARTIN

Posted By: Sandy Ficken (email)
Date: 4/12/2011 at 13:41:51

Funeral services for Emma Rachel Powell, 94, Keota, were held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 11, at the United Church of Faith, Keota. She died peacefully with her family by her side Friday, Jan. 7, 2011, at Parkview Manor, Wellman.

The Rev. Dennis Hopes officiated at the service.

Burial was in the Wellman Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the United Church of Faith, Parkview Manor Chaplaincy Program, Wilson Memorial Library and Lagos Acres.

Powell Funeral Home, Keota, was in charge of arrangements. Messages may be left at www.powellfuneralhomes.com.

Emma Rachel Powell was born July 27, 1916, in Latour, Mo., the daughter of Thomas L. and Nancy Schrock Byler. At age 12, the family moved to a ranch in western Kansas. She graduated from high school in 1934 in Garden City, Kan., attended Hesston College Academy for two years and graduated from Laura A. Kindsy School of Nursing in 1938. After graduation, she worked as a surgical supervisor in the operating room of Goshen Hospital and later in other types of nursing.

She married Lewis J. Powell Jan. 22, 1939, at the Goshen College Mennonite Church, Goshen, Ind. She worked with her husband in the family business and was an integral part of Powell Funeral Homes. They also provided ambulance service for the area for many years. She helped plan and organize weddings for many years.

She was a member of the Mennonite Church for many years and a member of the United Church of Faith, Keota. She was a member of the Keota Community Club, Fortnightly Club and a trustee of Lagos Acres Country Club. She served on the Wilson Memorial Library Board for 12 years and on the pastoral care board at Parkview since 1989.

She was a stamper and an avid golfer, scoring two holes-in-one at Lagos Acres.

Powell is survived by two sons and their wives, Jared and Jacque Powell, Williamsburg, and Paul Douglas and T.J. Powell, Wellman; eight grandchildren, Leslie Renner, Jennifer Brown, Allison Pryce, Kimberly Doehrmann, Shawn Powell, Aaron Powell, Paul Powell and Taylor Powell; 14 great-grandchildren; one sister and her husband, Nadine and Mike Yoder, Conyers, Ga.; one brother, Robert Byler, Tuscon, Ariz., and one sister-in-law, Lois Byler, New Paris, Ind.

She was preceded in death by her husband, in September of 1989; her parents; one daughter, Nancy Adams; great-grandson, Addison Powell; five brothers, John D. Byler, Gerald Byler, Glen Byler, Rolland Byler and Vernon Byler, and one sister, Hilda Martin.

Williamsburg Journal Tribune, Williamsburg, Iowa, 13 Jan 2011, pg 3