Bernice Opal Powell
September 4, 1919 – December 17, 2010
Opal Powell of Cedar Creek, 91, while at home watching TV, fell asleep in her chair and very peacefully and quietly went home to be with our Lord on Friday, December 17, 2010. She was born September 4, 1919 to Andrew and Ethel Cast in Dale, Texas. She met her future husband, Charlton Y. Powell, Jr. and they were married on December 24, 1937. She worked beside her husband on the High Grove farm where together they raised three children, Elsie Ross (Mac), Charlton Y. “Buddy” Powell III, and Linda Brock.
Opal was well known and loved by many patrons in Bastrop for the many years she worked at Tracey’s Grocery, Red and White Grocery, and East End Grocery. When her youngest child graduated from high school, she went to work at the Austin State School and later transferred to Travis State School until her husband’s death in 1984. Although she retired from state government, she did not retire from working. She worked for many years for her oldest daughter in the First Baptist Church Day Care and later at the Cedar Creek Methodist Church Day Care. By all the children and the workers, she was lovingly known as “Granny”. She worked up into her 80’s when her health finally made her retire from a “paid” job, but for years she continued to have a garden, with her beloved and first grandson, Charles Powell. Her greatest joy was feeding all who came through her door. Being such a fabulous cook, many friends and family were always eager to come through her door. In earlier years, one beloved and trustworthy nephew “borrowed” a pecan pie from her freezer and forgot to tell her. Later in life, the guilt got the best of him and he had to confess his crime. She got many wonderful laughs telling about that incident with great pride.
Mrs. Powell and her husband raised Charlie since he was 2 years old and he always promised her she would never go to a nursing home. He very lovingly kept that promise by being her sole caretaker during her final years. The family is so grateful and proud of his love and tremendous dedication to her. She said many times that she knew she would not have lived so long if it wasn’t for Charlie.
Opal was preceded in death by her husband and parents, brothers A. B. and Morrell Cast, daughter-in-law Mary Ann Powell, and son-in-law John A. Brock. She leaves behind to cherish her memory all three of her children, grandsons Charlton Y. “Charlie” Powell IV pictured above with her, Kenneth Ross (Micha), grand daughters Gina Castle (Nate), Holly Ross, great grand daughters Catherine DeLong, Ammie Bartsch (Jimmy), Harley Ross (Travis), Raymie Ross, Hanna and Morgan Castle, great grandson Zachary Coronado (Ashley) and great great grand children Ashton and Mikaley Bartsch, Travis, Jr., and Rylin Coronado. Also to cherish her memory are her beloved nephews Bobby Ingram (Dorothy), Jerry Ingram (Doris), Ronnie Cast (Ruth) and a vast number of friends and extended family members.
The family would like to express sincere love and gratitude to Dr. Janet Jewell in Austin and Marta Cox in Smithville. Opal met Marta many years ago when she was on Hospice, but she improved so they removed her from Hospice. Marta has continued to come twice a week to bathe and wash her hair. She became like a third daughter to Opal.
Visitation will be at the Bastrop Providence Funeral Home, 2079 Hwy 71 East, Bastrop, Texas 78602 on Monday, December 20, 2010 at 6:30 PM. Services at Bastrop Providence will be Tuesday, December 21, 2010 at 2:00 PM with burial following at High Grove Cemetery on High Grove Road. To leave notes of remembrance go to www.bastropprovidencefuneralhome.com
Pall Bearers are Curtis Smith, Kenneth Ross, Zachary Coronado, Tim Wendt, Kevin Moffett, and Paul Blomstrom. Honorary Pall Bearers are Buddy Powell, Charlie Powell, Mac Ross, Bobby Ingram, Jerry Ingram, and Ronnie Cast.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests any memorials be sent in Opals name to Hospice Austin’s Christopher House, 4107 Spicewood Springs Road, Suite 100, Austin, TX 78759.