Kelly P. Powell

Kelly P. Powell, 88, of Stillwater, passed from this life on November 12, 2011 surrounded by those he loved. Services have been entrusted to the care of Palmer Marler Funeral Home and will be held at 10:00am Thursday, November 17, 2011 at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Stillwater. There will be a potluck celebration of Kellys life after the graveside at the Heritage Bldg at the Payne County Fairgrounds.

Kelly Preston Powell was born on June 10, 1923 in Walters, OK to Herman Powell and Leda Brashears Powell. He was raised and educated in the Walters area. At the age of 9, he would hop on to the train and ride it alone to Southern Texas to work in the cotton fields. At the age of 15, he went to work for the Corp of Engineers, building roads through the Wichita Mountains in Southern Oklahoma. Kelly returned to the family homestead upon his mothers death and began helping raise his younger siblings. In 1943, Kelly joined the U.S. Army and served in the hand gliding unit in the Philippines. His unit would hand glide into rural areas and build airstrips for military use. Kelly also became recognized for his superb boxing skills, only losing one fight, to a long-armed aborigine fighter who certainly had a distinct advantage.

In 1945, after being honorably discharged from the Army, Kelly returned home and moved with his two sisters to Coolidge, AZ. While working on the irrigation rigs in the Arizona desert, Kelly met the love of his life, Wanda Beatrice Prickett, who was vacationing with her family in the Coolidge area. After a short courtship, Kelly convinced Wanda to be his wife. The couple relocated to Stillwater, where Kelly attended Oklahoma State University, obtaining an Associates of Business Degree.

During this time, the Powells had two children: Debbie (Sage) Powell and Kelly Powell II. In 1954, Kelly moved the family to Liberal, KS where he co-founded the Liberal Safety Lane auto repair shop. Three years later, the family relocated back to Stillwater, where Kelly opened the Stillwater Safety Lane, which he operated until 1971. In 1971, he began a successful career as a real estate broker and auctioneer. He started Kelly Powell Real Estate and Auctions, which he operated for more than 13 years. In 1984 Kelly retired from the auction business and began working for the OSU Physical Plant and in 1994 he retired from OSU.

Kelly spent the remainder of his life buying and selling horses and cowboying around. He was a member of the Ponies of America, 4-H, The Nazarene Church and the Mehan Union Church. He was a founding member of several organizations including the Okie Arkie Trail Ride in Southeastern Oklahoma, The Turning Point Ranch in Stillwater, as well as the Payne County Sheriffs Posse. Kelly has owned several hundred horses over the years in an effort to find them the best possible home. He had the ability of looking in a horses mouth and tell the horses exact age. It has been said that Kelly Powell was the original Horse Whisperer.

Kelly Powell was a sincere and caring man who always put others first. He had the unique ability to make whoever he was with feel like the most important person in the world. He loved children and would often leave a group of adults to spend time with children. He would always say that they had a voice and he wanted to hear what they had to say. He was an amazing storyteller, a proud grandpa, a loving father, and an onery friend. He will be missed by all who knew him.

He is survived by his children Sage Powell and Kelly Powell. One granddaughter: Kristine Powell, of Stillwater. Three great grandchildren: Kaleb and Dylan Powell of Stillwater and Jadyn Hadix of California. Two sisters: Jan Hallergan and husband Orville, of Storm Lake, IA and Joyce Potts of Union City, OK. He was preceded in death by his loving wife Wanda Beatrice Powell, a brother: Granville Powell and a sister: Leatrice Arnold.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Kelly name to Turning Point Ranch, a therapeutic riding center or Judith Karmen Hospice in care of Palmer Marler Funeral Home 5106 N. Washington, Stillwater, OK 74075.

Condolences may be sent to the family via an online guestbook at www.pmcfh.com or on our facebook page at www.facebook.com/pmcfh