John Charles Powell 1937-2016

John Charles Powell, 78, of Green Forest, AR departed this life Thursday, March 3, 2016. He was born April 9, 1937 in Green Forest, the son of Jesse and Una (Coxsey) Powell. He graduated from Green Forest High School and was a U.S. Army Veteran.
John was always a farmer at heart and owned and operated several farming operations over the years. He was also a truck driver and enjoyed traveling, elk hunting and telling stories about his adventures. He especially enjoyed his role as a father and grandfather. John was a member of Bethel Baptist Church in Green Forest.
He is survived by his son, Randall Powell and wife Venus of Green Forest, daughter, Cheryl Johnson and husband Todd of Van Buren, Randall and Cheryl’s mother, Carole Powell of Green Forest, 3 grandsons, Johnathan Powell of Bella Vista, Alexander Johnson and wife Julianna of Ft Smith, Parker Johnson of Van Buren, 1 brother, Buster Powell of Green Forest, 1 sister, Francis Blanchett of Hot Springs, AR and a number of other family members and a host of friends.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Jesse and Una Powell, brothers, Vernon, Gene, Clinton, R T and D K Powell, sisters, Carmen Barrows, Mary Kathryn Brannick, Mattie Lee Powell and Barbara Mote.
Celebration Of Life service will be 10:00 AM, Monday March 7, 2016 at Smith Family Funeral Home in Green Forest with Pastor Joe Summers officiating. Interment will follow at Pickens cemetery. Visitation will be 2-4 PM Sunday, March 6th at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to American Alzheimer’s Association...alzfdn.org
On line condolences may be made at www.smithfamilyfuneralhome.net

Dick and Betty Powell

Dick and Betty Powell with Aunt Tee and Aunt Clara.  I think this was taken at Carrollton, possibly at the house, below,  that Daddy bought about 1940.

Melton Powell and Brother Jesse

Labeled on back

A. Myrtle, U. Jess, A. Una & Carmen, U Melton, A. Gertie & Thelma, A. Bulah.

Thelma was born in October, 1912.

I think this photo came from Aunt Tee.

Gans, OK Powell Reunion 1943

Virginia Powell Smith shared this photo with me with no names.  I pleaded with her to name all in the photo and she called in the help of Willis "Skinny" Powell, her first cousin.  Skinny is the son of  'Lige Jr. Powell and Virginia is the daughter of Elmo Powell, JR's brother. Through their combined effort we have the following identities for the group.  I am guessing that the year was 1943, but it could be late in 1942.

Starting down in front sitting:
Willard E. Powell (1922-1991), John Wesley Powell 1877-1956), Avis Horton Powell (November 30, 1930), Donald Ray England (August 11, 1934), Fred James (Dub) Taylor (February 19, 1933),  Richard Powell (1934-1984), Willis Edgar (Skinny) Powell (August 19, 1934), Sally (Wiss) Powell England (1914-2003),  in front of Wiss Powell is Leroy Taylor (December 14, 1929) and in front of him Tommy Darrell England (1939-2014), then Emma Ruth Shofner (granddaughter of Levina Sandlin Shofner, Aunt Vine), Emma is the blond girl in white blouse,  Geraldine Anderson Russell (Jan. 1927-June 2010) is sitting holding Dorothy Imogene Powell Glasco (born 1939, she lives in Shafler, CA and has 6 children)

Standing L to R
Roy Taylor (no hat), behind Roy is Tom England (black hat), 'Lige Powell (1982-1954, he has hat and white shirt), Stella Jackie Payne Powell holding her baby Linda Faye Powell Unruh, Elsie Powell Taylor, Behind Elsie and Jackie in white hat is Elmo Powell (1917-2004, Virginia Powell's Dad),  coming back down is Ida Belle Sandlin Powell (1887-1983, she has hands folded in front of her and a button dress) behind Ida Belle is Quinton Powell (only part of face visible), by Quinton is 'Lige Powell Jr (wearing white hat.  He is Willis "Skinny" Powell's Dad.), Arbie Powell Anderson is between Ida Belle and 'Lige Jr. Powell, next to Ida Belle is Levina Sandlin Shofner (sister to Jim Sandlin making her Ida Belle's Aunt Vine, she has on a white dress), Jim Sandlin (Ida Belle's Dad in black hat and suspenders), behind and between Aunt Vine and Jim Sandlin is Roland Boyette and Lyda Morgan Powell (wife of Lige Jr.), holding baby in back row is Jack Powell, the baby is Wanda Lou Powell Wheat (b 1941), lady in white dress and white hat is Lilly Sandlin Moore, sister of Jim Sandlin, behind Lilly is Ernest Shofner (son of Levina Sandline Shofner), behind Ernest is Homer Powell (1913-1983), next to Ernest in black and white dress is Essie Barnes Powell (wife of Homer), on the end is Eva Jo Powell Dougan (1927).

I do not think Virgina and Skinny Powell gave the identies of the four girls sitting in front--girl with doll and three girls to her left?.

Virginia Lee Powell is Johnny on the Spot.  I emailed her abut the four girls and got this reply--

4 girls in front l-r... Me (Virginia Lee Powell b. 1938) with my head hid behind Bonnie Anderson  1939-2013  (Arbie),^^^^^^   Taller blond is Nathalie Powell ,   (1936-1959) Belongs to  (Homer)^^^^^^In dark dress holding a doll is Helen Ruth Powell,  b. 1933 to Lige Powell.  

Nathalie Powell died at such a young age that I had to ask Virginia what happened.  She was having a little surgery after the birth of her second child.  Here is Virginia's reply--She had just had her 2nd child and afterwards had to have some kind of surgery and as the nurses were getting her up, a blood clot went to her heart and killed her. 

Powell Cousins Kin Through 'Lige Powell

Virginia Powell Smith and her cousin Willis "Skinny" Powell got together and named the Powell cousins in this photo!
Standing back Row L to R
Avis Powell, Leroy Taylor, Fred "Dub" Taylor, Helen Ruth Powell, Richard Powell, Geraldine Powell, Donald Ray England

Elige Powell (their Grandpa) is sitting holding Wayne Powell and Bonnie Anderson, next is Dorothy Powell, Ida Belle Sandlin Powell holding Linda Faye Powell, Nathalie Powell, and Virginia Lee Powell clasping her hands together.

Down in front and almost cut out of the photo are: Darrell Englnad and Willis "Skinny" Powell

Linda Fay Powell was born in May 1942.  Virginia Powell was born in 1938.  From these hints I think this photo was taken in 1943 on the Powell Farm which was a mile and a half from Gans, OK

I bet 'Lige Powell loved the big reunion that day and Ida Belle worked her tail off fixing dinner for the herd!

Virginia said when 'Lige passed in June of 1954 her family (Elmo Powell) came from California. When the burying was over her family returned to California but left Virginia with her Grandmother Ida Belle.  Virginia drove her Grandma all over OK that summer. They visited kinfolk and went everywhere Ida longed to go!

Lige and Ida Bell Sandlin Powell

Virginia Powell Smith sent this picture to me by mail.  Lige and Ida Bell are younger than in the other family photo we had.  'Lige died in June 1954 one month before Grandpa Robert Melton Powell passed.  Richard Powell (our Great Grandfather) and 'Lige were first cousins!

Below is Richard and Elizabeth Cooper (Betty) Powell with their daughters Matilda (Tee) and Clara Powell.  I would guess that this picture was taken at Carrollton, AR.

Powell Reunion Gans, OK 2015

Virginia Powell Smith shared this photo of last years Powell Reunion at Gans, OK

I remember the year Sisters Fleta, Patsy and I attended the event.

I am sure it was in the late 1990s and of course Patsy was a hit that day, Fleet and I were just visitors, but Sister Patsy was the long lost relative they all loved to get to meet!

2015 'Lige and Ida Bell Sandlin Powell Descendents  Reunion Gans School Cafeteria

 In front, sitting.  Quinton and Eva Jo Powell Dougan.

 l-r,  Blue shirt, Donald Ray England,  (Sally Wiss)  Elmo Wayne Powell  (Elmo)  Helen Ruth Powell Ross (Lige) green blouse.   Leroy Taylor,  glasses (Elsie)  Behind Quinton and Eva Jo is Wanda Lou Powell Wheat and Linda Faye Powell Unruh, daughters of Jack Powell.  Willis Powell, checkered shirt in the back row. (Lige)  Avis Horton Powell,, glasses (Lige).   Me  in blue blouse, Virginia Powell Smith, (Elmo).  Behind me, A head belonging to Brenda England Taylor,(Wiss).  Phyllis Dougan Long, (Eva Jo).   On the right end standing,  Cathy Powell Craig,,(Quinton)