Everett ‘Jake’ Powell

Everett Gay “Jake” Powell, second child born to Oy (Terwilliger) Powell and Rolland Dean Powell, was born January 3, 1941, in rural Ringgold County, passed away Nov. 26, 2021, at Mount Ayr Health Care Center, from complications of Parkinson’s disease.

Jake attended country school and graduated from Mount Ayr High School with the class of 1959. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1961, serving four years before being honorably discharged.

On August 18, 1963, Jake married his high school sweetheart, Ellen Kay Prentis. They later divorced in 1965. Jake later married Kathleen Kaye Young and adopted her children; Katreena and Jeffrey. He was a good father to his kids who loved and respected him. Jake was a very special papa to his grandkids with plenty of love to go around.

Jake remarried Ellen Prentis Gregg June 12, 1992, becoming father to Randy and Chandra. After almost four years in the Mount Ayr Health Care Center, he asked her when they were going to get married. She said, “How about Wednesday?” So on October 4, 2018, they renewed their vows in the presence of Mount Ayr Health Care employees and residents. The reception was held in the dining room with punch, cupcakes and Bingo. This one time, he enjoyed being the center of attention. When anyone asked them how long they’d been married, they responded, “Which time?”

Jake loved coon hunting with the guys, playing cards, and shooting pool at the Dead-Beat Club, fishing in the best spots. He never met a dog that wasn’t a “show dog.” He loved going to high school football games, especially when his nephew, Wes, played.

Jake will be missed by his wife of almost 30 years, Ellen Powell; children: Katreena (Glen) Foster, Jeffrey (Sherry) Powell, Randy (Marcy) Gregg, Chandra (Robb) Timlin; grandchildren: Shanna, Cody Lee, Aaron (Christina), April, Lyndsie, Nicole (Art), Leah, Ryan, Jordan (Becca Jo), Becca (Nate) and Rachel (Myles Greene); many great-grandchildren; brothers: Howard (Diane) Johnson, Dennis (Darlene) Powell, Greg (Hazel) Powell; sister, Paula (Lyle) Rychnovsky; several nieces and nephews.

Jake was preceded in death by his parents, Rolland Powell and Oy Webb; parents-in-law, Richard and Marjorie Prentis; grandparents, Guy and Pearl Terwilliger, Bud and Sadie Powell; brother, Buddy Powell; sister-in-law, Vicki Prentis and special friend, Kenny Markley.

Visitation, with the family present, will be 10 a.m. at United Baptist Presbyterian Church in Mount Ayr, with services beginning at 11 a.m. Burial, with military honors, will be in the Rose Hill Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Mount Ayr Animal Alliance in honor of “Show Dogs.” Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr is in charge of the arrangements.