Doris M. Powell

PORTAGE  --  Doris M. Powell, age 86, of Portage, passed away on Thursday, August 15, 2013 at Divine Savior Healthcare.

Doris was born to Leon and Vera (McMillan) Gray on her Dad’s prairie homestead in Bowman, North Dakota, on February 10, 1927.  Her family moved to Briggsville, WI shortly after her birth and later to Fifth Road Endeavor, WI in 1929.  She survived rheumatic fever as a young teenager and rushed her recovery to go to a school dance.  Doris lost her brother Albert Gray - US Air Corp in World War II.  She graduated from Endeavor High School and moved to Madison to work as an accountant in a bank.  In Madison she met and later married Charles Daniel Powell.  They moved to Badger Village where she gave birth to Jenifer and Diane.  They moved to Reedsburg where she gave birth to Lorraine and Victor.  They moved to East Alton, IL where she gave birth to Cheryl.  Doris supported her husband’s Aerospace career while her family moved from East Alton, to Pomona, CA, Eldorado Hills, CA, Ogdensburg, NJ, back to Eldorado Hills, CA, and finally back to Fifth Road Endeavor. She was a great mother, a Girl Scouts leader, an accomplished seamstress, loved to dance, was tough and independent, loved her flowers and her dogs, was kind and supportive to all of her family members, and loved the Green Bay Packers (particularly Brett Favre).

She is survived by her children, Jenifer Powell, Diane (Jim) White, Lorraine Powell, Victor (Gayle) Powell, Cheryl Powell; her grandchildren, Eric Abben, Kevin White, Patrick White, Babaji Abben, Brett White, Erica Thomas, Danica Cooper, Amber Powell, Holly Powell, Sarah Powell; fifteen great-grandchildren; her sisters, Leona Cheney, Ruth Fandrich, Marion Durheim, and June Parrot, other relatives and many close friends.  Doris was preceded in death by her parents, Leon and Vera Gray, her brother Albert Gray, and her sisters Florence Schroeder and Irene Colburn.

Funeral services will be held at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 22, 2013 at Trinity United Church of Christ, with the Rev. Julie Wilson officiating.  Burial will follow in Hillcrest Cemetery, Endeavor.  Visitation will be held on Thursday from 2:30 p.m. until the time of the service at the church.