Mildred Elane Taylor Powell passed away peacefully at home on January 17, 2022 with her loving husband of 70 years, Gerald, at her side and surrounded by family. Mildred was born in the Grimes County community of Bedias, Texas; the first-born child of Ruby Bracewell and Tom Terrell Taylor. She was born at her Grandmother Bracewell's home on February 24, 1928. It was the height of the depression and life was hard but both the Taylor and Bracewell families had strong roots in Grimes County so Mildred grew up surrounded and loved by her grandparents, aunts, uncles and many cousins. The family added two brothers for Mildred along the way, Joe and Travis.
The family eventually settled in Freeport, Texas, about the time Mildred started high school. She went to work part-time at the Freeport Insurance Company and after graduation, attended Business School in Houston, then returned to Freeport to continue working for the Insurance Company.
As a young girl, Mildred accepted Christ as her Savior and was baptized in the pond behind the Baptist Church in Bedias. She was always a faithful Southern Baptist and joined First Baptist Church in Freeport when her family moved there. A few years later, that’s where she would meet Gerald, a newcomer to town, and they had their first date on Labor Day Weekend, 1951. Following a whirlwind courtship, they were married just a few months later on December 21, 1951 and settled in Lake Jackson, Texas. While Gerald worked at the Dow Chemical Company, Mildred raised their family of three children; Debbie, Julie and Scott. She was an accomplished cook, seamstress and homemaker and active in the First Baptist Church of Lake Jackson.
After the children were grown, Mildred and Gerald had a chance to travel the world. They lived in Europe two different times, in Yugoslavia and in Spain, and Mildred embraced both of those experiences as an adventure and opportunity to see new places.
Eventually, it was time to retire and Mildred and Gerald settled back in the United States choosing Horseshoe Bay, Texas as their retirement destination. They were active in the First Baptist Church of Marble Falls and the H.O.P.E Sunday School Class for over 30 years. Mildred enjoyed being the class secretary for most of that time and was active in the missions programs of the church. For years, her fall calendar revolved around the Texas Longhorns football schedule. A season ticket holder, Mildred took to heart the motto ‘Come Early, Stay Late and Wear Orange.’ She never missed a home game until her health began to fail.
When it became obvious that Mildred’s time left was short, all she wanted was to be at home with her family in the house that she loved in Horseshoe Bay. The family so appreciates the loving care given to her by Altus Hospice and her caregiver and friend, Ericca Angel.
Visitation will be held at Clements-Wilcox Funeral Home in Marble Falls on Monday, January 24, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. with a memorial service to follow at 11:00 a.m. A family graveside service will be held at a later date for Mildred at the Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Bedias, Texas. She will be buried next to her grandmother Bracewell in whose home she had been born.
Mildred was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Joe, and her nephew David. She is survived by her husband of 70 years, Gerald, and her children, Deborah Kay Sorrell and husband, John; Julie Ann Harris and husband, Curt; and Scott Gerald Powell and wife Kathy. She is also survived by her brother Travis and her niece, Emily. Her legacy and spirit live on in her 8 grandchildren Heather, John, Jennifer, Lauren, Katie, Tamara, Ashley and Courtney and her14 great-grandchildren Wyatt, Seth, Reece, Eli, Colton, Declan, Matthew Douglas, Caroline, Zachary, Ian, Skylar, Cole, Martin and Peter. She was truly blessed.
The family requests that memorials for Mildred be made to the Mount Pleasant Cemetery Fund, c/o First State Bank of Bedias, 22201 TX-90, Bedias, TX 77831 or the First Baptist Church of Marble Falls Hunger Ministry.
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