Warren Douglas Powell

My sincerest condolences to all of Warren´s family, especially his wife. Warren grew up south of Buffalo, MO about a half mile from my sister and her husband so we met sometime around middle school. We graduated both high school and college together commuting to college together for the first year and a half. We were both especially strong in mathematics and started out majoring in that subject. Warren was also very good in science (me not so much) so he switched his major to science which he ended up teaching for many years. We did almost everything together during those first years of college from double dates to several classes together and leisure time at the student union playing pool and ping pong. We were also invited to some college friends´ homes on weekends. One of those trips was to visit an inspirational young lady who had been born with a number of birth defects which she overcame with the most positive attitude I´ve ever encountered. That girl was named Bev Bates and she was from Waynesville. Little did we know Warren would spend the rest of his life there after college. After college, we went our separate ways and rarely saw each other over the next 50 years.
After I learned of his illness, I reached out to tell him how much he influenced the course of my life. He was the primary reason I went to college and became a math teacher. Typing this tribute caused me to remember how many memories we shared during those formative years. I will end this tribute with a more lighthearted comment that I shared with his wife. Warren had a wonderful head of hair in college with a great set of sideburns typical of the 70s. I, by contrast, lost most of my hair in my 30s. His family will be in my prayers for many days to come.

Debbie and family,
Our sincere condolences! You two were an inspiration to me always!! As individuals and as a couple. You are in our prayers during this difficult time.
With love and friendship,
Amy (clark) and Dale Stegeman