Leon Powers, a strong, loving and caring Christian husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, went to be with His Lord and Savior, on June 7, 2020. He was 94 years old.
Visitation will be on Thursday, June 11, from noon to 5 pm, at the Coker-Mathews Funeral Home.
Graveside services will be on Friday, June 12, at 10 am, at the Memoryland Memorial Park.
The Greenville Police Department Honor Guard will be the Pallbearers.
Leon had been a resident of Greenville since 1968, when he was named Chief of Police and served the citizens of Greenville for 20 years. He was affectionately called “Chief” by his many friends and acquaintances. He was an active member of the Creekside (Johnson Street) Church of Christ, where he served over 35 years as an Elder and Sunday School Teacher.
Leon was married to Maydel Curry Powers for 71 years, until her passing in 2017.
Leon was born on January 19, 1926, in Itasca, Texas, to George Powers and Birta Mae Burnett Powers.
Just two weeks before his eighteenth birthday, Leon enlisted in the US Marine Corps and was sent to the South Pacific theater of World War II. He obtained the rank of Corporal before being discharged in 1946.
He returned to Itasca after the war and began dating Maydel Curry. They were married on September 12, 1946. They were blessed to have two sons, Fred and Jack.
Leon and Maydel moved to Irving and he began his career with the Irving Police Department in 1956. He advanced quickly through the ranks and was named Assistant Chief of Police in 1960.
In 1962, he was one of only four policemen chosen in Texas to attend the FBI National Academy in Washington, D.C. Upon graduation, he received a diploma signed by Attorney General Bobby Kennedy and FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover.
After his retirement, Leon began playing golf and started a part time relationship with the Gibson Automobile dealership. He always enjoyed making banana puddings for his friends.
However, his favorite recreational activity was driving his motor home to South Fork, Colorado, and camping at Fun Valley with Maydel. These trips started in the 1980’s and they made their final trip in 2016 when he was 90 years old.
On March 28, 2017, the Greenville City Council and the Texas Police Chiefs Association recognized Leon as the oldest living former Police Chief in the state of Texas.
Leon was preceded in death by his loving wife Maydel, his brother, James Woodrow Powers, and his parents.
He is survived by sons Fred Powers and wife Pam, from Arlington and Jack Powers and wife Amy, from Heath; granddaughter Alexa Bowers and husband Jon from Katy and their children William, Colton, Eliza and Alana; granddaughter Andrea Powers from Arlington and her children Cohl, Preston and Mack; sister-in-law Doris Whitmire and husband Bob from Sherman and their children Jeff Whitmire and wife LeeAnn from Sherman, Julie Martinek and husband Mark from Dallas, and Jason Whitmire and wife Paige from Southlake.
We are requesting that you limit the size of the gathering during the viewing due to concerns regarding the current health crisis. Please feel free to come and pay your respects but limit your contact with others as per recommended guidelines from the CDC.
