Doris Elaine (Browning) Powers 1917-1986

Doris Elaine Browning Powers was born July 31, 1917, in Senath, Dunklin County, Missouri.  She was the third daughter of Herbert and Mattie Hart Browning.  Doris left this life on February 27, 1986 at the age of 68 years.

She was united in marriage to Raymond L. Powers on March 29, 1936.  They were the proud parents of five children, two of whom preceded her in death.

Doris and Raymond lived all their married life in or near Richland.  Doris was a long time member of the Richland United Methodist Church, where she served faithfully on many committees and held many offices and positions.  She was President of the United Methodist Women.  She loved her church and the people in it.  Doris was a member of the church choir and sang duets with many people, including her lifelong friend Ginny Jones and her granddaughter Anda Powers.

Doris worked for attorney Claude Wood for 16 years as a secretary and bookkeeper.

Doris believed, all her life, that those “good old days” were the best, despite the hardships and deprivations people suffered for lack of modern miracles like electricity, antibiotics, and automobiles.  She felt that despite the conveniences, the modern world is lacking in traditional family values of love, togetherness, strength, and the willingness to love and help our neighbor.

Doris embodied these values, and instilled them in her children.  To us, she was the loving strength and wisdom, totally devoted to her family.

In the treasures of love, laughter, and music, the cherished legacy of the past, and the future promise of her children, Doris Powers was a very wealthy woman.

She is preceded in death by her parents, one son Gary Ray, one infant daughter Julia Ann, and one sister Melba Browning Vaughn.

She is survived by her husband, Raymond; two sons: Jay and Alan; and one daughter, Judy Ashworth, all of Richland; three sisters: Lois Brooks of Poplar Bluff; Jaunita Moales of Kansas City; and Anne Warren of York, Pennsylvania; two brothers: Bud Browning of Irvine, California; and Morris Browning of Senath, Missouri; a grandmother, Maude Hart, of Kennett, Missouri; 14 grandchildren and one great grandchild.  She also had many nieces, nephews, aunts, and a host of friends.  She is and forever will be, greatly loved and missed.