Hallie Tom Nixon Powell

Tyler resident, Hallie Tom Powell passed away peacefully at home on February 13, 2012 following a decade of graceful aging but declining memory. A memorial service celebrating her life will be held at 2:00 p.m., Monday, February 20th at Christ Episcopal Church, the Rev. David A. Luckenbach presiding. A brief reception in the Parish Hall will follow the service. Interment will be one hour prior to the service at Rose Hill Cemetery in Tyler, under the direction of Lloyd James Funeral Home. The family will receive friends on Sunday from 5:00-6:00 p.m. at Lloyd James Funeral Home.

Mrs. Jack J. Powell was born Hallie Tom Nixon in San Antonio, Texas on September 1, 1924, the daughter of Hallie Fincham and Stephen Maston Nixon. She was raised in Corpus Christi, Texas and a resident of Tyler since 1946. She was predeceased by her husband of 50 years, Jack J. Powell, her son, Jay Powell and her sister, Nancy Nixon Cunningham. One of her fondest memories as a young girl was sailing with her sister on the Teak Lady, a gift to them from their parents. Mrs. Powell attended Camp Mystic in Hunt, Texas and was a graduate of The Hockaday School in Dallas, valedictorian of her class at Mount Vernon Junior College, now a part of the George Washington University in Washington, D.C. and a graduate of Sweet Briar College in Virginia.

Mrs. Powell’s Texas lineage dates back to ancestors that were part of the Old Three Hundred, a group of settlers who received land grants in Stephen F. Austin’s first colony in the summer of 1824.

Mrs. Powell will be remembered as a devoted wife, a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, a gifted conversationalist and a self- described “eternal optimist.” She was a gracious lady with strong faith and impeccable values.

For many years, much of her time was divided between Tyler and the N. P. Powell Ranch in Bosque County, Texas.

Mrs. Powell shared an interest in the breeding and racing of Quarter horses with her late husband and enjoyed many summers in Ruidoso, New Mexico. She was a Founders Circle member of the Spencer Theatre and a member of the Kokopelli Golf Club, both in Alto, New Mexico.

Mrs. Powell loved to garden, whether working in her yard or identifying wildflowers at the family ranch. She belonged to the Gertrude Windsor Garden Club, a member of the Garden Club of America, and served as Zone IX Chairman, a member of the Board of Associates and Nominating Committee of the GCA.

Mrs. Powell was a sustaining member of the Junior League of Tyler. As a charter member of the Tyler Service League, she was committed to the “Picture Lady” program that took prints to 5th and 6th grade classrooms in Tyler to expose children to important works of art.

Her lifetime appreciation of art continued with her participation as a founding member of the Tyler Museum of Art, a patron of the Collectors’ Circle and a past member of the Board of Trustees.

She was involved in her community by serving on the board of the Tyler Smith County Library Foundation and on the Smith County Grand Jury as foreperson.

Active in the Texas Rose Festival, Mrs. Powell twice served as Royalty Chairman, twice served as Vice President of Women’s Activities, co-chairman of the Rose Show, Escort chairman and Mothers’ chairman.

Mrs. Powell enjoyed participation in the Deck Club, Quid Nunc Literary Club and Willowbrook Country Club. Her weekly bridge group played together for over 50 years.

Mrs. Powell was a lifelong Episcopalian and member of Christ Episcopal Church. She was active in the Altar Guild for many years, past president of the Episcopal Church Women and participated in the Thursday Morning Bible Class.

Mrs. Powell is survived by her son, Stanton Preston Powell of Tyler and her daughter, Hallie Nixon Powell Cardwell and son-in-law, David Williams Cardwell of Austin; her grandchildren, Kimberly Anne Powell-Olivares and her husband, Jorge Patricio Olivares, Robert Preston Powell of San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, and his fiancé, Veronica Gonzales of Monterrey, Mexico, Nixon Patricia Capri Powell, Laura Kathryn Powell of Austin, Jaime Michelle Powell of Tyler and David Willard Williams Cardwell of Austin; her great-granddaughters, Ella Rebecca Olivares-Powell and Aubrey Grace Bolton.

Mrs. Powell is also survived by her nieces, Nancy Cunningham Watson and Susan Cunningham Lewis, both of San Antonio and her nephew, Walter Connally Powell of Dallas.

Our family would like to thank Jerry Bowens for many years of loyal service and dedication to the family. In addition, we gratefully acknowledge the wonderful care and companionship given to mother by Shirley Jones, Tonja Newman, Carolyn Mack and Kwan Hill during her illness.

If desired, memorials may be made to the Tyler Museum of Art, 1300 South Mahon, Tyler, TX 75701, Christ Episcopal Church, 118 S. Bois D’Arc, Tyler, TX 75702 or All Saints Episcopal School, 2695 S. Southwest Loop 323, Tyler, TX 75701.