Tom Powell

Tom B. Powell, 85, of Brenham, died March 9, 2015, at Brenham Nursing and Rehab Center. Visitation will be held at Memorial Oaks Chapel from 6:00-7:00 p.m. Thursday, March 12, 2015, with the funeral service following at 7:00 p.m. As per Tom''s wishes, he will be cremated. Tom was born in Dallas, Texas July 29, 1930, to Enoch and Norma Ruth Cottle Powell. He attended schools in Dallas, Texas and graduated from North Dallas High School. After graduation, Tom was offered a position with Atlantic Refining Company in Dallas and was later transferred to Billings, Montana, where he lived for 40 years. Tom attended Eastern Montana College Montana State, where he graduated Cum Laude with a degree in English. He taught Spanish at Billings Hill School for one year. Tom was offered a position at Eastern Montana College in the English Department and was head of the English Department for a short time. He started with the college in 1962 and retired in 1988. Tom joined the Catholic faith in August 1951. He was a member of St. Mary''s Catholic Church in Brenham, Texas. Tom was active in the church. He was a cantor at Saturday Mass and also a member of the RICA Team. Tom had a wonderful singing voice. He and his coach, Vicki Wehmeyer, performed for many years at the local nursing homes. Tom is survived by sisters, Mrs. Bess Hill of Brenham and Mrs. Dorothy Blackwell of Abilene, Texas; stepsister, Diana Powell of Dallas; nephew, Mr. Robert Blackwell and wife Terri of Abilene; nieces, Mrs. Terry Harris and husband Roger of Brenham, Ms. Vicky Krueger of Kenney, Texas and Ms. Diane Schmidt of Hallsville, Texas; and good friend of many years, Mr. Don Peloquin of Brenham. Tom had numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and many good friends in Billings, Montana and in Brenham. He is preceded in death by his parents; sister, Anice McDonald of Dallas, Texas; brother-in-law, Milbourn Hill of Somerville, Texas; and brother-in-law, William Blackwell of Longview, Texas. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. Mary''s Catholic Church or Hospice Brazos Valley. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Memorial Oaks Chapel, 1306 W. Main St., Brenham, TX, 979-836-4564. To post a tribute, visit www.memorialoakschapel.com.