Harold LeRoy Powell

He was born at home at Lacamas near Salkum, on March 24, 1923 to James and Martha Powell. He was the 10th of 11 children. He attended first grade at a two-room school in Cinebar and moved to Onalaska where he finished 7th grade. When the family moved to Salkum, he attended Mossyrock School and graduated in 1941 with honors and was captain of the football and basketball teams. He attended college at Bellingham for one quarter until he received his draft notice in January 1943.

Harold married Dorothy J. McMahan on Feb. 8, 1943. Three days later he entered the Army and served in England and France throughout WWII. After the war, he was reunited with Dorothy in January of 1946 and they moved to Seattle where he attended the U.W. His hopes were to be a coach and math teacher, however, when he realized he would soon become a father they sold their home and moved back to Lewis County. They purchased their current home near Salkum in 1948 which he remodeled and has lived in for 66 years.

He worked 14 years at Howard’s Mill in Mayfield, C&E Mill in Randle and for The City of Tacoma at the Mayfield Power Plant for 20 years as an operator until he retired in 1987.

After he retired, he and Dorothy took a three month trip with their travel trailer to Alaska and saw many of the places they had read about and wanted to visit.

He enjoyed camping, hunting, the mountains, picking huckleberries and loved his family. He enjoyed people and loved telling stories. During his recent hospital stays, he always shared with the staff that he and his wife had just celebrated their 71st anniversary. One of his major accomplishments was publishing a book this year titled Our Story, that he and Dorothy worked on for the past 18 years. It is a treasured gift they gave to their children and grandchildren.

He was a member of an nondenominational worldwide fellowship of New Testament Christians.

He was preceded in death by a son, Gary in 1997; and two daughters, Elaine Jasperson in 2010 and Linda Welch in 2011; his parents, four brothers, Dan, Dave, Bill and Barney; and five sisters, Daisy (a baby), Clara Busek, Bess Wright, Nora Norris and Nellie Swietzer.

He is survived by his wife, Dorothy at home; a son, Harold Jr. of Salkum; two daughters, Ellen Berdan of Salkum and Diane Taylor of Tenino; and a sister, Beulah Davis of Centralia.

He is also survived by 13 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews and a host of friends.

We held you in our arms for a little while but will hold you in our hearts forever.

Viewing will be Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Services will be Saturday, May 17, 2014 at 1:00 p.m. at the Sticklin Funeral Chapel, 1437 S. Gold, Centralia, WA. Graveside services with military honors will follow at the Shoestring Cemetery off Hwy 508 at 104 Frase Rd., Onalaska, WA. All are invited to a potluck reception at the Shoestring Church adjacent to the cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to The Veterans Memorial Museum in Chehalis.

Arrangements are under the direction of Sticklin Funeral Chapel, 1437 S. Gold St., Centralia, WA 98531. 360-736-1388.

Condolences may be offered at www.sticklinsfuneralchapel.com