Omegene Frances Powers Powell, 93, of Owensboro left for her heavenly home on Friday,
October 25, 2019. She was born on January 31, 1926 to the late Josh and Myrtle Harris
Powers in Ensor, in Daviess County. She was preceded in death by her husband of 48 years,
Thurman Newell Powell on June 29, 1994 and by 9 of her siblings; Ozetta (Ken) Huff, Odessa
(Bill) Lane, Harry Powers, Marjorie (Bob) Fenwick, Tommy (Edna Mae) Powers, Hazel Powers,
Nancy (Jerry) Caplinn, Walter (Mae) Powers and infant James Edward Powers. She is survived
by 4 sisters, Jane (Don) Byrne, Bertha (Wendell) Ralph, Evelyn (David) Marquis, Betty (Charles)
McGrew and a brother, Jerry Powers.
She is survived by 4 children, Jean Gay Powell of Harrisburg IL, William Lee (Wende) Powell of
Clemmons NC, Edward Donald Powell of Owensboro KY, and Carolyn Brantley (Joseph)
Williams of Bowling Green KY. She has 8 grandchildren, David Powell, John Powell, Heather
Jones, Kristi Powell, Tonya Powell, Daniel Brantley, Michelle Balverde and Nathaniel Brantley,
and 3 great grandchildren, Autumn and Audrey Jones and Abigail Powell.
She graduated from Daviess County High School in 1944 and Western Kentucky Teachers
College in 1950 with a Bachelor of Science in Education. She taught 2nd grade at Sorgho in
the 1945-46 school year and was librarian for Bloomfield Ky school from 1949 to 52. She spent
the next years raising their 4 children as she and Thurman settled in Webster County, Ky. As
the last child approached school age, she rejoined the library world as an elementary school
librarian in Webster County from 1966, until she retired in 1981. She continued library work on
the Webster County Library Board, and as president was instrumental in passing a referendum
to fund the renovation of the old Dixon School into a larger and improved library.
Mom became a Christian in college, and taught Sunday School classes of all ages through the
years at Dixon First Baptist Church. After Thurman died, she moved back to Owensboro and
soon became director of the senior group, the Never Too Old Club, at Parrish Avenue Baptist
Church. Her passion for serving seniors included visiting nursing home and homebound
members and sending cards. After moving to Lewis Lane Baptist Church, she continued
creating and sending cards to seniors for over 20 years, until she was no longer physically able.
A curious and inquisitive mind led to coast to coast camping vacations, as the entire family
learned science and history along the way. After retirement, this curiosity led to researching her
family genealogy. She found relatives in Germany, which led to visits overseas and
reciprocating visits to the states. She wrote and published two genealogy books from this
research.
Omegene and Thurman also enjoyed square dancing. They developed friendships and danced
as far away as Texas and Europe.
Visitation will be Thursday, October 31 from 11 am-1pm at James H. Davis Funeral Home & Crematory. Graveside service will be 3pm Thursday, October 31 at Oak Grove Cemetery in Dixon, Ky. A Memorial Service will be on Saturday, November 2 at 2 p.m. with a gathering from 1-2 p.m. at the funeral home.
Expressions of sympathy may take the form of donations to Sunrise Children’s Services, 300 Hope Street, PO Box 1429, Mt. Washington, KY 40047. Please write In Memory of Omegene Powell on memo line.