James “Jimmy” Powers
Photograph of James Powers courtesy of his family, obtained from his obituary published by Hamil Family Funeral Home.
Jimmy Powers loved to read western novels, play 42-dominoes, and spend time with his family. On his online tribute wall, his sister, Wanda Powers Farris, thanked him for teaching her how to swim and drive with a standard shift. Growing up, he learned a lot about working with machines and engines, and as a teenager, he built hotrods with his friends and brothers. He loved to tell stories about his experiences and was known for his wonderful laugh and welcoming presence.
Jimmy was a father to two children, a grandfather to two grandsons, a brother, and a favorite uncle of many nephews and nieces. Mrs. Farris reflected, “You loved kids and they all loved you! When you came home from the army and came by our house Julie was about 2 weeks old. She had just eaten and you wanted to hold her, don't think you had ever held a baby before. You were picking her up and playing with her, I told you she was going to throw up on you, and you said that's okay! Sure enough she did, and you said that's okay! yuck!! Anyway, you loved kids.”
In the days leading up to his death, Jimmy suffered from COVID-19 symptoms while incarcerated at the Ellis Unit in Texas. He was hospitalized at Jennie Sealy Hospital in Galveston and subsequently tested positive for the virus. On Sunday, May 10, 2020, Jimmy passed away at the age of 77. Though Jimmy’s family declined an autopsy, coronavirus is presumed to be the cause of his premature death.
Jimmy was born in Robert Lee, Texas, in 1942, but moved with his family to California so his father could work in the shipyard during World War II. When they moved back to Texas after the war ended, he worked alongside his siblings to make money for his family. Jimmy joined the US Army and later spent most of his adult life in Abilene, Texas, working in an oilfield.
He is buried alongside his fellow veterans at the Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Abilene.
“Uncle Jimmy, What can I say? You were a huge part of my life,” his niece, Kimberly Powers Weaver, wrote on his tribute wall. “I loved going to stay with you and Janice. I will never forget you teaching me to ride a horse. Then you finally let me ride it by myself and that stupid thing took off and wouldn't stop. It ran me through those trees at your house and I held on like you said but I sure got a whipping from those trees.”
“You were always there for me,” Kimberly continued. “I know you loved me and all of us kids and we loved you. You will truly be missed. I treasure my memories of you and I miss you and love you.”
This memorial was written by MOL team member Kira Grossfield with information from an obituary and tribute wall from the Hamil Family Funeral Home and a press release by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.