Sam Powers

Baytonian Sam Powers died on September 14, 2017 of kidney cancer. He was born in Marlin, Texas on October 17, 1927 to Alice Meier Powers and “Cotton” Powers. He moved to Baytown at the age of 3 months.

He was preceded in death by his parents, sister, Helen Powers Wilkinson, and cousins George Meier and Dr. Tom Meier.

Sam attended Baytown Elementary, Baytown Junior High, Robert E. Lee, Lee College and Schreiner Military Institute before graduating from Sam Houston State University in 1949 with a degree in finance.

In 1950, Sam’s friend from college, Wanda Ellis, introduced him to fellow Horace Mann teacher, Suzi Benson. It was love at first sight and they married 5 months later on March 24, 1951.

Sam worked in the accounting department of Exxon and retired in 1983 after 32 years of service.

In their “leisure years”, Sam and Suzi loved to travel the United States. They visited 47 states in their motor home.

Sam had a special passion for cars and was a great “shade tree mechanic”. He and Suzi loved their classic white Zimmer and black Excalibur. They mostly drove them to Church on Sunday where friend, George Walmsley, referred to them as the Powers’ “ceremonial cars”. Sam entered both cars in the Baytown Christmas Parade of 2005 where the white Zimmer won first place and the black Excalibur took third place.

Sam was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church where he served on the Altar Guild for a number of years and on the staff of The Taper, the monthly newspaper.

Sam is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, Suzi, daughter Dawn Powers Leslie and husband, Jim, of Arlington, Texas, and son Clark Benson Powers of League City. He is also survived by granddaughter Courtney Powers Dawson and her husband Kevin of Pearland, Texas, grandson Nathan Leslie and his wife Leslie of Kingwood, Texas, and grandson Chad Leslie and his wife Kami of Paris, France.

Great grandchildren include Chloe and Connor Dawson, and Wilson, Catherine, Hudson, Leo, and Yilan Leslie.

A memorial service is planned for Friday, September 29, 2017, at 2:00 at Trinity Episcopal Church at 5010 N. Main in Baytown, Texas. The Reverend Doctor Jason Haddox, Suzi’s beloved ex-student, will officiate.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Trinity Episcopal Church Building Fund, 5010 Main Street in Baytown, Texas 77521.

The family would like to thank private nurse, Yvonne Issac, caregiver, Pat Edwin, and the staff of Baytown Rehab for their loving care.

To view the online obituary or to post a tribute for the family, go to www.navarrefuneralhome.com

Arrangements are under the direction and personal care of Navarre Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 2444 Rollingbrook Dr., Baytown, TX, 77521 (281) 422-8111.