Betty L. Brackett Powell, 85, passed away on April 29, 2024, in El Paso, TX. She is preceded in death by her beloved husband of 63 years, Jack, and survived by her son, Gary Powell; daughter, Janet (Rich) Salazar; grandchildren, Derek (Deidre) and Amanda; beloved sister, Tommye Middleton; sister-in-law, Lillian Brackett; sisters, JoAnn McCulley and Crissie (JW) Tyree; brother-in-law, Bobby (Donna) Powell; and loving nieces and nephews. Betty was born in Stanford, KY, on July 21, 1938, to Tom and Cleo Brackett. Betty and Jack, high school sweethearts, moved their family to El Paso to pursue their decades-long involvement in the grocery business, eventually owning Big 8 Foods stores on the west side of town. She was Jack’s side-by-side partner in life and in business. Betty worked for over 15 years at the El Paso International Airport, where she was executive assistant to the general manager of Sky Chefs and was a longtime active member of the El Paso Women’s Club and multi-term president of the Desert Hills Garden Club. In addition to their family and business, Betty and Jack were very involved in the community, donating their time and resources. Their lives also centered around their church, first as groundbreaking members of Scottsdale Baptist Church and later as members of St. Mark’s Methodist and The First Baptist Church of El Paso. They both sang in their church choirs for decades, where their love of music was on full display. Betty and Jack loved traveling, being with their family and friends – often taking cross-country road trips to do so, and spoiling their family, especially their grandkids. Though she battled Alzheimer’s in her later years, Betty never lost her spark. While devastating, she didn’t let the disease take away her essence – a sassy, social, loving spirit, never to be dimmed. The family would like to thank those who lovingly cared for her.
A Celebration of Life Service will occur Saturday, June 8, 2024, at 11:00 AM at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, 5005 Love Rd, El Paso, TX 79922. All are invited to attend.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Alzheimer’s Association, West Texas Chapter – www.alz.org/westtexas/donate
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.MartinFuneralHomeWest.com for the Powell family
