Jerry L. Powers

Jerry LeeRoy Powers, 75, of Eaton, passed away at home after a very short illness on October 7, 2021. Jerry was born December 17, 1945 at Denver’s St. Anthony’s Hospital, the third of four children, to John and Phyllis (Farrell) Powers. Jerry joined his siblings Joanne and Jim, and later, Jeff completed the family. Jerry grew up in Central City and attended school there. Upon graduation, he married his high school sweetheart, Wally Creath. They had two daughters together, Lori Powers and Karin Cromwell. In 1994, Jerry met and married his wife of 27 years, Jo Powers, and embraced her children as his own.

Immediately after high school, Jerry enrolled at CSU and obtained his B.S. in Biology in 1966. He went on to receive a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from UNC. Jerry initially worked as a Quality Control Chemist for Frontier Refinery in Cheyenne and then at Western Research Laboratories in Denver. Jerry later returned to the Powers’ family roots, ultimately focusing most of his career in the mining industry. He joined the Colorado Bureau of Mines as an inspector, and he began working for Cotter Corporation in Canon City at the Uranium Mill. That led him back to Denver at Cotter’s Corporate Headquarters as their Health and Safety Director. When Cotter closed, he combined his passion of teaching others with his mining health and safety work and opened his own consulting firm— PC Group. Most recently, he worked at the Colorado School of Mines, teaching classes in Mining Health and Safety, in addition to his consulting work, where received high praise and respect from his colleagues and students.

Jerry was always there to support others in times of life altering illness and accepting of life changing events. He never missed an opportunity to celebrate with family and friends at birthday parties, weddings, and holidays. Jerry was passionate about taking care of the children in his life. He made every child’s life he touched better, richer, and happier by being with them. He was their rock. Jerry gave so much to each of these children, all of whom will treasure the countless memories spent on adventures, vacations, family holidays, camping, boating, fishing, hunting, Christmas tree gathering, and attending Denver Broncos, Colorado Rockies, and CSU Rams sporting events with him, that the legacy of his passionate giving spirit will be carried on through them: daughters Lori (Peter) Powers and Karin (Dave) Cromwell; stepchildren Paul (Janan) Maes, Pegi (Matt) Hansen, Travis (Tracy) Fitzgerald, Kally (Nico) D’Alessandro, and Kristin Thomas; grandchildren Christopher (Abby), Heather (Buddy), Kailey, Austin, Alyssa, Antonio, Vincent, Skyler, Kendall, and Owen; great-grandchildren Haze, Heaven, and Halo; nieces and nephews Penny (Ron), Kelly, John, Jim (Heidi) Powers Jr., Amanda (Todd), and Craig (Kailyn); great nieces and nephews Brittany (Rich), Brandy (Sam), Haley, Hayden, Hunter, Berkleigh, Maverick, Adriana, Teagan, and Brycen; and great-great niece Reagynn.

Jerry was preceded in death by his parents John and Phyllis Powers, his sister Joanne (Tom) Davis, nephew Michael Smith, brother-in-law Wayne Smith and stepdaughter Maxine Benkowski.

He is survived by his wife, Jo Powers, brothers Jim (Cindy) Powers and Jeff (Mary) Powers, daughters Lori Powers and Karin Cromwell, step children Paul Maes, Pegi Hansen, Travis Fitzgerald, Kally D’Alessandro and Kristin Thomas as well as the many grandchildren and great-grandchildren named above.

Jerry’s service will be held Saturday October 30, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. at Allnutt Funeral and Cremation at 6521 w. 20th St. Greeley. In lieu of flowers, the family has set up a Go Fund Me page to help cover the costs of medical bills and funeral expenses at https://gofund.me/79332839.