William Samuel Powers Jr.

William S. ''Bill'' Powers Jr., 69, of Waco passed away Thursday, Dec. 4, 2003. Services will be at 11:30 a.m. Monday, Dec. 8 at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Chapel, 6101 Bosque Blvd., with the Rev. Barry Camp officiating. Internment will follow at Oakwood Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7 at the funeral home. Bill was born February 23, 1934 in Beaumont, Texas to the late W.S. and Carmen Powers. He moved to Waco during his Junior High School years, and attended Baylor University in 1953, until he voluntarily joined the U.S. Army and served during the Korean War as a Chaplain's Assistant. He returned to Waco after his enlistment. Bill married Sue Marchman of Cleburne, TX on March 8, 1969. Bill was a member for many years of Highland Baptist Church. He was a prominent member of many community organizations, including DeMolay, the Jaycees, and the Masons. Prior to his retirement in 1998, he was a leading salesman for Great Western Directories. During his career, he also worked for the US Chamber of Commerce and RL Polk. He was one of the first Direct Distributors of AmWay in Waco. He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Sue; daughter Pam Smart and her husband Robert of Anacoca, LA; son Chris Powers and his wife, Berdina of Canton, OH; son Kyle Gustafson of Houston, TX; daughter Paige Powers of Waco,TX; and daughter Casey Lemaire and her husband Michael of San Antonio, TX; as well as six grandchildren Sean, Stefanie, and Dylan Powers and Garrett, Clay, and Reagan Lemaire. Bill's family wishes to thank his many friends, physicians, Hillcrest Hospice, and Greenview Manor Nursing Home staff for their loving support and prayers during his lengthy battle with cancer.