This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Powell, Whetman, Richards, Hoge Classification: obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.idaho.counties.bearlake/1996/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Idaho State Journal, 02/01/07 MONTPELIER - Authnell John Powell (A.J.), 97, passed away in the early morning of January 29, 2007. He had been hospitalized in the Bear Lake Memorial Hospital for several days prior to his death. A.J. was born January 2, 1910, in Granite, Utah, to John Abraham Powell and Florence Caroline Whetman. He married Grace Richards July 8, 1936, in the Logan, Utah LDS Temple. They are the parents of two sons and one daughter. Their marriage ended in divorce in 1960. A.J. was raised in Sandy, Utah, Glenwood Springs, Colo., and Montpelier, Idaho. After graduating from Montpelier High School, he attended the University of Idaho Southern Branch in Pocatello and Utah State in Logan. Upon earning a bachelor's degree in education, he immediately began teaching in the Bear Lake Valley. A.J.'s teaching career in Fish Haven, Montpelier and Bennington spanned several decades. His literature class at Montpelier High School was a favorite of students and his teaching of the "Tale of Two Cities," by Charles Dickens, has become legendary. A.J. was a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and served in many church assignments. After his marriage to June Smith Hoge in 1969, he served as bishop of the Paris-Bloomington Ward. June had two sons that became very special to him. A.J. enjoyed music, especially male choirs and quartets, and he loved to sing in the church choir. He was active in the community, serving for many years on the Montpelier City Council and the Montpelier School Board. A.J. was a peacemaker. He had a wonderful sense of humor and was a friend to all ages. After his devoted companion's death in May of 2004, A.J. continued to live in Bear Lake. In the later years of his life, A.J. stayed with the good people at Bear Lake Manor, where he seemed to assume the position of self-appointed "social director." His family is extremely thankful for the love and care he received. Survivors include his sons, John Reed Powell (Carla) of Sisters, Ore., Robert Winston Powell (Lois) of Boise, Idaho; daughter, Carolyn Warth (Ronald) of Boise, Idaho; stepsons, Steven Hoge (Jolene) of Paris, Idaho, and Alan Hoge (Ulla) of Sandy, Utah; brothers-in-law, O'Dell Smith (Helen) of St. George, Utah, Dean Smith (Delores) of Salt Lake City, Utah, Kay Smith (Jaci) of Sandy, Utah, Kent Smith (Colleen) of Salt Lake City. A.J. has 35 grandchildren and 54 great-grandchildren. A viewing will be held at Matthews Mortuary in Montpelier, Friday, February 2, 2007, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Funeral services will be held in Paris at the LDS Chapel at noon Saturday, February 3, with a viewing prior to the service from 10:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. Burial will be at the Paris, Idaho Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the LDS Perpetual Education Fund.