Larned – Dolores Joan (Dee) Powell, 87, passed away October 19, 2018 at Hilltop Manor, Cunningham, KS.
She was born April 24, 1931 in Wichita, the daughter of W.A. (Wid) and Mabelle Peterson Boyd. Moving back to Kansas from Massachusetts in 2009, she was a reading teacher.
She married Dean Smith in 1950. In 1958 she married Randy Powell from Cape Cod and they moved to the Cape in 1960.
She loved horses from an early age and was a tough competitor in racing events; held many State Championships in Barrel Racing, Flag Racing and other events. In the mid 1950’s she was the Queen of the Dodge City Rodeo one year and got to ride around the arena with Tex Ritter. She earned her degree from Fort Hays State College and became a teacher. In Massachusetts she wasn’t satisfied with the reading textbooks that she was teaching from so she wrote one of her own. American Book Company became aware of her book and published it. Then they hired her to travel New England promoting the sale of her book to different school districts and helping reading teachers to improve their teaching skills. She was lured away from American Book Company by McMillan Book Company where she continued doing the same thing.
Around 1980 she decided to ask a few friends if they would like to start a chorus and the Saints & Singers were born. They became very successful and performed all over New England being booked at least a year in advance. She has commendations from the Massachusetts Governor and Massachusetts State Legislator for her work with the Saints & Singers. In 1990 they were invited to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York City. They were noticed by Russian representatives and then invited to perform in Leningrad. Performing in Russia was a highlight. They were invited back to Carnegie Hall the next year, where they again performed and were again invited to perform in Leningrad but their funds had run out and they had to decline a return appearance. The Saints & Singers are still performing and were a huge part of her life for many years. She was their founder and Director, chose all of their music and managed the chorus until she moved back to Kansas.
In 2009 Dolores decided to return to Kansas to live close to her daughter, Deanne. Here in Larned she volunteered at the Humane Society and enjoyed going to Music Club events, playing Bingo and spending time with her daughter and son-in-law. She loved animals and always had pets.
Survivors include: daughter, Sheryl Deanne Pebley, Larned; two grandchildren, Sloan (Kraig) Clawson and Jake Pebley, both of Great Bend, her very dear friends, Jane Zook, Larned, Mike and Kathy Bonnet and Debbie Perry of Massachusetts and a multitude of much loved cousins and friends.
Funeral will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, October 30, 2018 at Garfield Lutheran Church, Garfield, Kansas. Visitation will be 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday at Beckwith Mortuary, Larned. Burial will be in Garfield Cemetery, Garfield.
Memorials may be given to the Grace Lutheran Church or Pawnee County Humane Society both in care of Beckwith Mortuary, Box 477 Larned, KS 67550. Condolences may be left at www.beckwithmortuary.com.