Carole Garrison Powell's Obituary
Funeral services for Carole Garrison Powell, 83, of Longview, will be held at Rader Funeral Home Chapel in Longview on Saturday November 26th at 1 pm with the Reverend David English officiating. Burial will follow at Rosewood Park Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, November 25th at Rader Funeral Home.
Carole was born August 23rd, 1933 at Baylor Hospital in Dallas, Texas and passed away peacefully at her home in Longview on Wednesday, November 23rd, 2016.
As a young girl her family moved from Dallas to Longview where she spent the rest of her life. She was very close with her parents, Hattie Irwin Garrison and Martin Talbot Garrison. She was incredibly creative and received much of her artistic talent from her parents. As a child she won national photo contests with pictures her father entered. She graduated from Longview High School in 1950, and attended Kilgore Junior College where she was a member of the renowned Rangerette Drill Team. She had three children: David Powell, Jeannene Powell Stone, and Mark Powell, all of Longview.
Her devotion to her children and family was truly remarkable. The way she served others was her spiritual gift and a legacy that changed many lives. She was blessed to have many grandchildren and great-grandchildren who affectionately call her “MeeMaw”. She was a care-taker in every sense of the word. She cared for her family well, and raised not only three lovely children, but had a hand in molding the lives of many of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. So many people are richer for having experienced her nurturing spirit and unwavering support.
Her outer beauty was matched and superseded by her inner beauty. She was known by all for her kindness and her caring, gentle nature. Scripture tells us that a life marked by the Holy Spirit will yield fruits of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, and faithfulness; and these characteristics poured out of her life and her heart. Carole was an active member of First Baptist Church Longview and taught in the 4-year-old Sunday School Department when her children were young. She was currently a member of the Path Finders Sunday school class. Carole’s personal relationship with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, was evident in the way she lived. The joy of the Lord truly was her strength.
She served her community as a President and Lifetime Member of the Pine Tree ISD PTA. She volunteered for the Good Shepherd Medical Auxiliary in the gift shop where she was a buyer and arranged beautiful flowers. She was a member of the Rangerettes Forever organization, the Daughters of the American Revolution, and the Ivy League Garden Club. As the Treasurer for the Longview Class of 1950, she loved keeping up with classmates and attending reunion events each year.
Carole enjoyed spending time with her family, gardening, painting, and attending musical events. She liked to travel, do crafts, and curate special collections for her home. She was an avid sports fan, and one of the special things about her was her love for her grandchildren and their activities. She attended games and recitals and concerts and loved cheering them on at all their events.
She is survived by her children, David and Donna Powell and their children, Shea, Chad and wife Kacey, Clay and wife Brittany, Brian and wife Lauren, Lindsey and husband Judson; Jeannene and Jeff Stone, their son Jared and wife Sarah; Mark and Debbie Powell and their children Erik and wife Natalie, Scott, Lance, Lindsey and husband Chris, and Logan. She is also survived and adored by 13 great grandchildren and 1 great-great grand daughter, and a sister-in-law Linda Bray and husband Jim.
The family would like to thank Dr. Rodney Henry for his loving support and care; Visiting Angels caregivers Renee, Sarah, Lynne, Sherry, Stephanie and Sue; and CareTeam Home Health and Hospice staff.
The family requests memorials be made to Buckner Child and Family Services of Longview or First Baptist Church Longview.
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