Walter Noel Powell

Walter Noel Powell passed away peacefully on June 2, 2024 in Meeker Colorado. He was born November 18, 1937 in Fruita, CO to Les and Ila Powell, who homesteaded on Douglas Creek. He was one of 10 children born to them. He attended schools in Rangely and participated in wrestling and boxing. He married his High School sweetheart, Patty Lee Percifield on December 3, 1955 and they recently celebrated their 69th Anniversary. They had four children, Pam, Raymond, Judy, and Brett.

To support his family, Walter started working at Fish Construction south of Rangely on Douglas at the gas plant. He then went to work for Central Welding where he started his career as a welder and he worked for several companies over the years, but he settled in and welded for W.C. Striegel for 41 years laying thousands of miles of pipe across the west.

Walter was well known for his unmatched work ethic and ability to work endless hours as a welder and maintain the family ranch. Sometimes, haying his fields through the night to get the work done. Welding was a family tradition, as his father had worked for Bill and Joe McMullen in Les’s early days in Rangely. Walter had many stories about growing up in Rangely and finding time to not only work hard, but also play hard. Being the legendary story teller that he was he liked to brag, “We could be worn down from the days work but when the sun went down our eyes would be wide open”. He told of all the fun he had living in a small town playing practical jokes on co-workers and spending time with classmates that made lifelong friendships.

In 1961, Walter in his “free” time decided to raise Appaloosas. He started with a stallion named Carey’s High Hand. Walter and Patty had many winning Appaloosa horses. Some of his and Patty’s horses even went to the World National Finals in Las Vegas, NV and Oklahoma City, OK. His second stud Snow Cap Triple Win was at one time was the co-world record holder for the 250-yard race. Walter also started a Chariot Racing club with a group of his friends. They were very competitive even traveling around to other towns for races.

Walter had an uncanny ability to give nicknames to others and if you were one of the recipients, feel honored, because he probably liked you in some fashion or another.

Walter was a lifelong member of the Masons where he earned his 50-year pin, a member of the Rangely Saddle Club, and a founding member of the Columbine Racing Association.

Walter is survived by his wife Patty Lee Percifield Powell, 4 children-Pam Powell (Ken Meis), Raymond (Dusty) Powell, Judy Raley, and Brett Powell (Dani), 8 grandchildren-Cori Elam (Ryan), Melinda Lewis (Doug), Herb Raley (Teya), Samantha Powell, Casey Ducey (Natalie), Trista Raley, Cassandra Powell, Keane Raley (Tatum), and 16 great grandchildren-Kelton Elam, Halie Elam, Ashlynn Ducey, Mason Ducey, Kallista Lewis, Trevor Lewis, Trent Lewis, Travis Lewis, Kyla Lewis,

Forrest Otterman, Gunner Otterman, Steven Raley, Dutton Talbert, Marlo Raley, Brayden Raley, and JB Raley, sisters Jayne Powell, Willa Kay Powell, and Nona Powell and brother Cork Powell.

Walter is preceded in death by his father and mother Les and Ila Powell, his grandson Zane Powell, and 5 brothers and sisters-Wallace Powell, Louise Lewis, Rowena Pennell, Diane GeBaeur, and Leslie Ann Counts and 3 nephews Mike Lancaster, Nick Lancaster and Tim Lewis.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Adventure Awaits 4-H Club (West Rio Blanco

4-H Livestock/Horse Judging Team) in honor of Walter Powell. There is an account at the Bank OF San Juans-PO Box 175-Rangely, CO 81648.