Phyllis Katherine Powers
Service: 2 p.m. Saturday, April 25, at Eagle Heights Baptist Church, with burial at Maplewood Cemetery; Visitation: 5-8 p.m. Friday, April 24, at Roller-Christeson Funeral Home.
Phyllis Katherine Powers went home to be with her Lord on Monday, April 20 (2015) at North Arkansas Regional Medical Center, Harrison.
Phyllis was born Dec. 2, 1934, to E. Gordon and Ruby (Selvidge) Starkey. She was married to the Rev. Edward L. Powers and was an active member of Eagle Heights Baptist Church.
Phyllis was ready to go to her Heavenly home. She prayed for families by name and for every country they had been to over the years, just wanting to lift up one more prayer on their behalf before departing. She quoted John 3:16 over and over with passion, a verse that gave her comfort in the last hours. Her telling others about Christ was her mission in life, only wishing she had more time to witness.
If everyone would have the faith in the Lord Jesus and moral attributes Phyllis and her husband of nearly 60 years had, it would be a better world. Phyllis and Ed ministered to many churches in Arkansas, Texas and Michigan together over the years. She served on the reorganization committee for the Arkansas Baptist State Convention and on the WMU Executive Board for eight years. They have left a legacy for their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren to strive toward.
Phyllis was a perfect example of a Proverbs 31 woman, always thinking of others first and self second. Her husband and children rose up and called her blessed. She served on the Board of Directors for the Associational and State WMU for many years. She was a faithful and supportive pastor’s wife. In order to help make ends meet while Ed was in seminary, she made Barbie doll clothes by the hundreds and sold them. Her house was always open to the members of the churches they served. She cooked and served meals to many, and her words of encouragement to others gave hope in hopeless situations. She was a testament of God’s healing power being a survivor of inoperable cancer for 30 years and would share that story to any and all who would listen. It was her joy to work with the children in AWANA at Eagle Heights.
Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents; her in-laws, Hulen and Mildred Powers; and her brother-in-law, Bill Ingram.
Phyllis is survived by her husband, Edward Powers; her son, Phillip Powers and his wife, Carleen, of Cabot; her daughter, Sarah Andrews and her husband, Robert, of Conway; five grandchildren, Christopher Powers, Angela Ferrell, Zack Andrews, Matthew Powers and Rebecca Powers; three sisters, Mary Ingram, of Harrison, Venita Stafford and husband, Keith, of Mountain Home, and Sammye Barnard and husband, Garry, of Valley Springs; her brother, Gordon (Sonny) Starkey and wife, Jackie, of Harrison; her great-grandchildren, Matthew, Amanda, Loran, Brandon, Caitlin and Toxey; and numerous nieces, nephews and many friends.
Visitation for the Powers family will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, April 24. Services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 25, at Eagle Heights Baptist Church, Harrison. Burial will be at Maplewood Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Christopher Powers, Matt Powers, Matthew Powers, James Cole, Zack Andrews, Roger Wagner, Bryan Stafford and Kevin Stafford. Honorary pallbearers are Mark Carter, Harold Stephens, Joel Moody, Toxey Ahrabli, Brandon Powers and her Sunday School Class at Eagle Heights Baptist Church.
Memorials may be made to the AWANA program at Eagle Heights Baptist Church or to Gideon International for Bibles.
Sign the online guestbook at rollerfuneralhomes.com/harrison .
