Raymond "Rip" Powell

Raymond "Rip" Powell, 79 of Waldo, Arkansas died Saturday, October 30, 2010 at the LSU Health Science Center in Shreveport, Louisiana. He was born on August 10, 1931 in Thornburg, Arkansas to the late Thomas and Ila (Camp) Powell. Rip was the Head Football Coach for Southern Arkansas University where he was inducted into the SAU Hall of Fame and was also inducted into the Arkansas Track Hall of Fame. He was a member of the Antioch West Baptist Church and loved raising cows and horses and enjoyed antique auctions He was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, Bonnye (Sherrill) Powell and a brother, Buddy Powell. He is survived by his wife, Mary Powell of Waldo; daughter, Sheryl and Chris Gasaway of Rockwall, Texas; sons, Mike and Tammie Powell of Waldo, Jack and Teresa Powell of Shreveport, Louisiana; step son, Mike and Debbie Grimmett of Worthem, Texas; brother, Richard Powell of Little Rock; sister, Doris Dorsey of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; grandchildren, Jacob Powell of Waldo, Sonya and Chris Eads of Waldo, Krista Best of Devine, Texas, Greg and Dana Powell of Magnolia, Amanda and Micah Strother of Shreveport, Louisiana, Ben Grimmett of Monroe, Louisiana, and Matt Grimmett of Fayetteville; great-grandchildren, Caleb and Addison Eads; Ashley, Bradley, Alexandra, Jacob, Preston, and Layla Best; Kayla, Mary Payton, Madison, Ben Austin, and Alex Grimmett; numerous nieces, nephews, and a host of friends. Family visitation will be Tuesday, November 2nd from 6 to 8 p.m. at Lewis Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, November 3, 2010 at 2 p.m. at the Antioch West Baptist Church with Bro. Chris Lucy officiating and assisted by Bro. Jim Sayers. Burial will follow at the Barlow Cemetery under the direction of Lewis Funeral Home, Inc. of Magnolia. Pallbearers will be W.E. Hawthorne, Johnny Tune, Bobby Jackson, Jerry Harrell, Rodney Dyson, Billy Dickson, Charles Aldridge, and James Skinner. Honorary pallbearers will be Sonny Whittington, Grant Marshall, Jim Baker, Don Phillips, Eldon Hawley, and Scotty Jack. Memorials may be made to the Antioch West Baptist Church or to SAU Rip Powell Scholarship Fund. www.lewisfuneralhome.biz.