Ruth Irene (Schmid) Powell

Ruth Irene (Schmid) Powell, 102, passed away Saturday, March 4, 2017, at the home of her son, Richard and wife Janice, in Gerald, Mo. Ruth was born January 23, 1915, in Steedman to the late Emil Schmid and Wilhelmina "Minnie" (Vandeloecht) Schmid. She received her teaching certificate from Warrensburg State Teacher's College and taught at Moore and Acorn Country Schools prior to her marriage. On June 23, 1943, she was united in marriage to Cecil Bertram (C.B.) Powell in Fulton and together they raised three children: James (Jimmy), Richard and Evonda Sue. They lived most of their married life in New Franklin. She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother. She was a member of the New Franklin Methodist Church and while her children were young she was active in teaching Sunday School and working with Vacation Bible School. She was a member of the Mokane Eastern Star for 82 years and recently received her 80 Year Pin. Ruth was an excellent cook and a talented seamstress. She sewed many of her own clothes as well as her daughter's. She hand stitched numerous quilts and knitted and crocheted many afghans. After her children were grown, she worked at Huffstutter's Orchard, Drysdale's Dress Shop and Manning Bowman Company. She enjoyed gardening and raised a garden until she was well into her eighties. She also raised African violets inside her front porch. She enjoyed watching Missouri Tigers football, and in her later years worked hundreds of Word Search puzzles. She and C.B. celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on June 20, 1993, at the Senior Citizens Building in New Franklin. The event was hosted by their children and grandchildren. C.B. had a stroke and passed away several years later on August 11, 1995. In addition to her husband and parents, Ruth was preceded in death by two brothers, Harry and Delbert Schmid; and sisters, Gladys Jones, Helen Tennyson and Nellie Laube. Ruth is survived by two sons, Jim (Norma), Rich (Jan), and daughter Evonda Diel; 10 grandchildren, Nathan Powell (Dee), Tim Powell (Mandy), Tiffany Pharis, Dana Powell, Noel Powell, Jessica Sanchez (Juan), Jonathan Powell, Justin Powell, Carrie Weaver (Bob), and John Downs (Jeanine); 18 great-grandchildren and two great, great-grandchildren. Visitation will be held from 8:30 to 11:00 a.m. with the funeral service to follow at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, March 10 at Gottenstroeter Funeral Home Chapel in Owensville with Rev. Terry Knight officiating. Interment will be in Mokane Cemetery in Mokane. Pallbearers will be Nathan Powell, Tim Powell, Jonathan Powell, Justin Powell, Juan Sanchez and John Downs. Bob Weaver and Jordan Talbot will serve as alternate pallbearers. Memorials requested to Young Entepreneurs of Gerald.