Mary R. Powell

Mary R. Powell, age 95, of Gatesville passed away on Tuesday, February 24, 2015 in Gatesville. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, February 28, 2015 at Scott’s Funeral Home Chapel, with Dr. Chad Bertrand officiating. The family will receive visitors following the service at the funeral home. Interment will be at Restland Cemetery. Mrs. Powell was born on June 9, 1919 in Rusk County, Texas. She was the daughter of the late Oscar and Essie Ballinger Ross. She grew up in Henderson and graduated from Henderson High School in 1936. She attended Kilgore Junior College and graduated from North Texas State Teachers College in 1940 with a degree in Library Science. She moved to Gatesville and became the high school librarian. She later met and married Erle Powell, Sr. on January 25, 1944. During their 71 years of marriage, she devoted her time to family, being a wife, mother and volunteering in the community whenever asked. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Gatesville. She was preceded in death by her son, Edwin E. Powell, Jr. in 2014; a grandson, Ryan Spiva Powell in 2005; and a brother, Tom Ross. She is survived by her husband, Erle Powell, Sr.; daughter, Celia and her husband, Dr. Bill Healey; daughter-in-law, DeDe Powell; sister, Louise Green; three grandchildren, Dina Powell, Peter Healey and wife, Ashley, and Michael Healey; two great-grandchildren, Preston and Mary Paige Healey. Memorials may be made to the Coryell Memorial Hospital Foundation, 1507 West Main Street, Gatesville, TX 76528 or The Ryan and Edwin Powell Scholarship Fund, c/o The National Banks of Central Texas, P.O. Box 779, Gatesville, Texas 76528 .