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Earl was a tall, handsome gentleman who looked very much like hismother, complete with the
dark hair and complexion. In his youngerdays his hair was quite wavy, possibly a trait from
the Powell side,although his father did not have that much hair, compared to others inhis family.
Earl's good looks were often compared to the old moviestar, Randolph Scott. He was a member of the Methodist Church of Arthur. Residences & events in his life: Being just 14 when his mother died and his father being absent much ofthe time, he soon quit school and starting working at various jobs.His older sisters did their best to keep track of him and their fatherbut were not always successful in either case. NE. While still a young lad, he went west to work as a migrant farmeron the grain farms of the great plains. His tenure there is unknown. Arthur, Douglas Co, IL, where Earl eventually landed as a farmer onhis own property. Bef 1928 Earl and his family took in his ailing father, along withsister, Ella. They were living in a 2 bedroom house at the time butmanaged to squeeze together enough to accommodate. Lovington, Moultrie Co, IL, was their address for several of thePowell reunion rosters. Decatur, IL. Following retirement from the farm, Earl and Alta movedto the city for the last 17 years of his life. During part of thattime he worked as a mechanic in a gas station there. Quoting again from Dorisgene Van Gundy Webb: "Uncle Earl was a giant of a man, it was so easy to look up to him! Hewas so kind and gentle. One Christmas I got a bundle of switches (Iwas told I had asked for them) but I can't remember much else that Igot that year. Uncle Earl felt so sorry for me that he went out thenext day and bought my one and only doll! And Aunt Alta knew I lovedspiced peaches so she made sure they were always on the table when wewent there to eat." A grandchild has some very special memories: " You never forget your first 'Best Friend.' Especially when hehappens to be your grandpa. Mine was my Grandpa Powell. The earliest story of my Grandpa's involvement in my life is thestory my father told me many times over the years. It was my Grandpaand Grandma's visit to see me for the first time in Jarman Hospital,Tuscola. I was brand new, but it was a difficult delivery and Mom andI showed the battle wounds. My right arm was in a little sling, myforehead was cut from the instruments, and my eyes were swollen andback and blue. As they looked through the nursery glass at me, my Grandma madethe mistake of saying, 'Our first grandchild is sure one ugly mess!'Without one second of hesitation Grandpa jumped to my defense bytelling her in no uncertain terms, 'That has to be the prettiest babyI've ever seen, and if you are going to talk like that, you can go wait in the car.' That was my Grandpa! Always aware of the need to see the beautyin all God's people. Especially the little kids. When I reflect on my first 'Best Friend' my eyes cloud with tearsof joy as I think about the man who looked like Randolph Scott (themovie star) - who taught me how to milk a cow, catch a fish, shootpool, ride a horse, and drive a car. When, at 16, I thought my '49 Chevy needed lowering blocks tomake the back end sit low, my dad wasn't too keen on the idea. So, Idrove to Decatur to talk to Grandpa about this life or deathsituation. After a short discussion Grandpa and I thought we should put on a set of blocks just to have a look. After we installed those6" blocks, we almost couldn't get the Chevy off the lift at the gasstation where Grandpa worked. When Dad came home from work I watched him stop for a moment andlook at my car before he came into the house. 'What happened to yourcar?' he asked. Very quickly, I responded, 'Grandpa and I are tryingout a new look that we like.' No more was said about it, because mybest friend was also my Dad's (best friend). I watched my Dad display the same qualities of love andfriendship to my kids and now that this grandpa thing has infiltratedmy life, my greatest hope is that someday my grandkids will look on mewith the same love and friendship as I do my Grandpa. Leroy Earl Powell" |
| Earl died of a massive heart attack. |
| His funeral was held at 2 PM on Tuesday in the McMullin Funeral Homeof Sullivan with Rev Kenneth Plummer, of the Arthur Methodist Church,officiating. |