Dr. Harry Chester Powell Jr.

Dr. Harry Chester Powell, Jr., passed away peacefully on June 6, 2013, after a prolonged period of declining health. A longtime resident of Austin, Dr. Powell was born in Jacksonville, Florida, on October 2, 1925, to Harry Chester Powell, Sr., and Carrie Storey Powell. He grew up in Mobile, Alabama, where he graduated from Murphy High School and studied pre-medicine at Spring Hill College. In 1946 he received his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Alabama College of Medicine. On Valentine's Day in 1948, he married the love of his life, Hazel Estelle Handley, whom he had met at the historic Jeff Davis Hospital in Houston where she was in nurse's training and he was an intern. During 1951-1952, Dr. Powell served in the United States Army Medical Corps. After two years in private practice in Corrigan, Texas, and one year with the Texas Public Health Department in Sweetwater, Texas, he and his wife moved to Austin, Texas. There he worked at the Austin State School as a staff physician for over thirty years, including eighteen years as medical director. He retired in 1988 after a long and productive career of caring for thousands of mentally challenged Texas citizens. He remained active in both the Travis County and Texas Medical Societies. He was preceded in death by his mother and father, by his wife of fifty-one years, and by his brother William Powell. He is survived by his brother, James T. Powell and wife Bud of Columbus, Georgia; by his son Harry C. (Buddy) Powell, III, and wife Louise of Waco, Texas; by his son John Finas Powell of Nashville, Tennessee; and by his daughter Judy Powell Shannon and husband Pat of McKinney, Texas. He is also survived by his grandchildren Andy Powell, James Powell, and Carrie Ingoldsby; Hannah Powell and Grant Powell; Joshua Shannon and Noah Shannon; as well as by his great grandchildren Madelyn Powell and Kathryn Powell; Grayson Powell and Gavin Powell; Annabel Ingoldsby and Abigail Ingoldsby. He leaves behind a host of other relatives and dear friends who will grieve his passing. The family wishes to express deep gratitude to all of those who have cared for this wonderful man in the days and months prior to his death, including longtime friend Jerry Turman; visiting angels Jo Rucker and Blanca Elias; Dr. Jason Martin and the medical staff of Seton Northwest Hospital. We especially want to acknowledge the love and support provided by all of the caregivers of Texas Homecare Partners, Odyssey Hospice, and the Pavilion at Great Hills. You are too numerous to mention by name, but rest assured we thank God for your kindness. The residents and staff at the Pavilion made the last three years of his life a time of surprising joy. Visitation with family will be held at the Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, located at 3125 North Lamar Boulevard in Austin, Texas, from 4:00 pm until 6:00 pm on Sunday, June 9. A service to memorialize Dr. Powell's life will take place at the Weed-Corley-Fish chapel at 1:00 pm on Monday, June 10, with graveside service and burial following immediately thereafter at Austin Memorial Park. Donations in his honor should be made to the McLennan Community College Foundation at 1400 College Drive in Waco, Texas 76708, denoting "Powell Nursing Scholarship."