Irene G. Powell

The service for Irene will be held at 2 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 6, at Hill and Son Funeral Home, in Appleton City, Mo.

The minister officiating the service will be Pastor Tony Reynolds.

Interment will be in Appleton City Cemetery, Appleton City, Mo.

The family suggests memorial donations be made to the First Christian Church in Appleton City.

Irene G. Powell passed from this life on Dec. 31, 2015, at 97 years of age. She was born in rural Laclede County, Mo., on Sept. 18, 1918, the youngest of six children born to Newton Clark and Carrie Ann (Woolsey) Gouge. After attending rural grade school she entered high school in Stoutland, Mo., graduating in May of 1937. She continued to live at home with her parents while caring for her ailing mother, Carrie, who died the following Feb. 28, 1938.

After the death of her mother, Irene was hired as the companion for an older lady suffering with arthritis. They traveled to Arkansas and Oklahoma so her employer could take treatments in the hot mineral baths. Later Irene was hired to care for Anna Bowling and her daughter, Mary Ann, while Anna's husband, Lloyd, was traveling around Missouri building roads as he was employed by Royce Zink Construction of Appleton City.

Lloyd had a handsome friend who was also employed by Zink Construction, so Anna and Lloyd decided the two should meet. Thus began the courtship of Richard Powell and Irene. They were married on June 18, 1942, in St. Louis where Richard was stationed while serving in the Army Air Corps.

Irene continued to live in Lebanon and work in a bank until Richard was honorably discharged. They settled in Appleton City where Richard resumed working for Zink Construction. Richard had rented three rooms in Grace Kidd's home for them. Their only child Carol Ann was born on May 24, 1944. Irene was a stay at home mom until Carol Ann was in grade school.

She worked for Brownsberger's Department Store for approximately 20 years; then babysat in her home for a short time before becoming a cook for Head Start in Appleton City for six years. Her final employment was with Yoss Brothers Grocery.

Irene was a longtime member of the Appleton City First Christian Church where she taught a preschool Sunday school class, served as superintendent of children's Sunday school, led and taught vacation Bible school and was active in CWF where she held several offices. She was a founding member of the church quilt guild and also often quilted with the group at Ohio Christian Church. She was a former member of the Appleton City Rebecca Lodge and had belonged to the local PTA while her daughter was in school. In later years she was a member of the Ellett Memorial Hospital auxiliary.

Irene was a wonderful cook most noted for her yeast rolls and glazed donuts, which she always supplied for bake sales and the country store at the Appleton City fair. People would stand in line to get them often calling her at home to have her mark them sold before the actual sale day.

Irene was a very good seamstress although she claimed to not enjoy it. Quilting was a favorite pastime as was crocheting and she made numerous pillows and afghans to give as gifts. Many people have some of the Christmas ornaments that she crocheted. She crocheted 30 bells to decorate the ends of the pews for her granddaughter's wedding.

Preceding Irene in death were her parents; husband, Richard, in 1990; four sisters, Lucy Atkins, Katherine Logan, Pearl Mooney, and Lorene Pryer; and one brother, Elston Gouge. She is survived by her daughter, Carol Ann and husband, Gary Hackney; granddaughter, Deborah and husband, Brent Emsbarger; great-granddaughters, Morgan and Sydney Emsbarger; plus numerous nieces and nephews.