The Western Star, January 27, 1950.
Funeral services for Mrs. E. A. Powell, who passed away in the Herman hospital in Houston, Texas, January 18 after an illness of about two weeks, were held in the Wilmore, Kansas Methodist church at 2 o'clock Friday afternoon, January 20. The services were in charge of Rev. G. J. Welker, pastor of the church.A male quartet composed of Marvin Belcher, Gene Dorsey, Nick Baker and Walter Smith sang "Lead Kindly Light," "The Old Rugged Cross" and "The City Four Square." Mrs. Wade Zeigler was the accompanist. The pallbearers were Jim Downing, Robert Downing, Powell Heide, Carol Heide, Earl Hubbard and Robert Davison, four of whom were grandsons. Burial was in the Wilmore cemetery by the side of Mrs. Powell's husband, who passed away June 12, 1929.
Obituary Sarah Elizabeth Davison, daughter of Aaron and Susan Davison, was born December 31, 1868, at Pekin, Ill., and passed from this life January 17, 1950, at Houston, Texas, at the age of 81 years and 17 days.
She was one of ten children, all except three brothers preceding her in death.
At the age of 14 she came with her parents to Comanche county, and they lived on a claim her father had taken in what later became known as the New Eden community, east of the Howard Burnett farm.
She attended the country school not far from the home, Mrs. Burnett being one of her schoolmates.
On October 18, 1886, she was united in marriage with Edgar A. Powell at the small town of Nescatunga, Rev. Floyd Miner officiating. After they were married they spent some time in Missouri.
When they returned to Kansas, they began housekeeping in a two room house where the Tom Pepperd home now stands.
Mrs. Powell had made her home in Reno, Sedgwick, Burton, Cowley and Butler counties in Kansas in the earlier days. Being the wife of a minister, her home was wherever he was called as pastor. For a number of years they made their home on land which they purchased in the New Eden neighborhood.
Later their home was in Texas and Mrs. Powell continued to reside there for some time after Rev. Powell's death, but finally she came back to Kansas and for several years lived in Wilmore.
Over a year ago her health began to fail and she returned to Texas, as most of her children lived there.
Her church membership was in the Methodist church at Pearland, Texas, having been transferred there from the church at Alvin, Texas, after her husband's death.
Three children preceded her in death: Oren, aged 18 months; Lee, at the age of 24, and Mary Powell-Downing, who passed away May 5, 1933.
She is survived by six children - three sons and three daughters: Mrs. Myrtle Heide of Leon, Kans., Mrs. Carol Ireland of Houston, Texas, Mrs. Opal Smith and Floyd Powell of Alvin, Texas, Harold Powell of Channelview, Texas, and Raymond Powell of San Antonio, Texas.
She leaves to mourn her passing 21 grandchildren, 25 great grandchildren, three brothers: Chris, Gene and John Davison, of Oklahoma; a large number of nephews and nieces and a host of friends, besides her children.
Mrs. Powell was a kind and faithful wife and mother and was devoted to her home and her friends. Through all the years of development of Kansas, including the lean years of the pioneer days, Mrs. Powell met vicissitudes and disappointments in the true pioneer spirit and was true to every trust.
Thanks to Shirley Brier for finding, transcribing and contributing the above news article to this web site!
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