John Perry Powell

John Perry Powell

Memorial services for John Perry Powell will be held 3:00PM Monday, August 7, 2017 at the Sulphur Veteran’s Center Chapel.

John P. Powell of Davis, a remarkable man of great character, optimism, and humor, left us on July 30, leaving a huge void for his many loving family and friends at the age of 96 yrs. Born June 29, 1921, John Powell grew up along the Columbia River in Umatilla, Oregon, and graduated from high school in Prosser, Washington, in 1939. He served in the Army Air Corps as a sergeant pilot during World War II. While stationed at Ardmore Air Base, he met Juanita Cross from Davis, whom he married in 1944. They had two children while they lived in the Pacific Northwest and returned to Davis in 1962.

Mr. Powell held an exciting range of jobs throughout his life, including as a cook on an Alaskan ferry line. He helped construct the Umatilla and The Dalles dams and piloted a Columbia River ferry. In Davis he established Powell Plumbing and Electric which he operated for more than forty years. Mr. Powell served on the Davis City Council, including brief periods as mayor and vice mayor.

In addition to his work, Mr. Powell loved his home in Turner Falls Park and his dogs. He saw the best in everyone and gave freely from his heart. A great problem solver and avid reader, he was an extraordinary role model and mentor for each generation of his family and beyond.

John is survived by his sister, Doris Roberts of Deer Park, Washington; his children, Jane Powell (Jonalu Johnstone) of Manhattan, Kansas, and Larry (Annette) Powell of Epps, Louisiana; his grandchildren, Gabe (Terra) Powell of Springer and Stephen Powell (David Johnson) of Kansas City, Missouri; his great grandchildren, Justin (Rylie) Farmer of Davis, Allee Rogers of Davis, Jon Vaughn of Westminster, South Carolina, Tyler Powell of Marlow, Ascher, Harper, and Sawyer Powell of Springer, and Ethan Fielding of Davis; and great-great grandchildren, Reece and Jaxson Farmer of Davis. Among others who dearly loved John are his former daughter-in-law Judy Powell and the family of Wanda Barnette.

Mr. Powell was preceded in death by his wife Juanita and granddaughter Jennifer Vaughn.

The family is deeply grateful to the staff of the Veterans Center in Sulphur for providing a caring home for Mr. Powell in the last year of his life.