Norma Lavon Powell

N. Lavon Powell (nee Ethridge), 90, beloved wife and mother, went to be with her Lord Monday, March 20, 2017 in Tucson. Born on September, 19, 1926 in Eureka Springs, AK. The daughter of Manford and Norma Ethridge, she grew up in Monet, MO.

After completing her Certificate in Nursing in the Cadet Nurse Corp at Springfield Baptist Hospital and her B.S. in Missions from Rockmont College (Colorado Christian Univ.), Denver,CO in (1952) she nursed at Tucson Medical Center until she left from First Baptist Church to be a missionary in India with the Conservative Baptist Foreign Mission Society. It was there that she met her husband, Morris Earl Powell of Douglas, WY, who was a medical doctor at the hospital where she was stationed. After marriage and the birth of their daughter, they would spend 5 years in Zaire, Africa as medical missionaries before returning to Arizona.

They made their home in Bullhead City, AZ for 20+ years before moving to Tucson, AZ in 1996, where they have resided since with a 2 year interlude in Ivory Coast and six months in Pakistan working in mission hospitals. She never lost her love of teaching about Christ and showing His love, in doing so taught Junior High Sunday School, VBS, and Pre-K Church as well as helping with other church activities and reaching out into the community. They have been active members of Sabino Road Baptist Church for 8 years.

She is survived by her husband of 50 years, Morris Powell of Tucson; daughter, Shalu Taylor and three grandchildren, Sean, Brynn, and Seth Taylor of Sandersville, GA; and a brother, David Ethridge of Springfield, MO.

A memorial service will be held at 10am on Monday, March 27, 2017 at Sabino Road Baptist Church, 2710 N. Sabino Canyon Rd.

In lieu of flowers, the family would like to suggest either a single red rose to be laid at the memorial service or memorial gifts to be made to Sabino Road Baptist Church For the CHIKALDA CHILDREN’S SPRING CAMP IN INDIA.