Powell, James R. 1937-2025 Kansas City, Kan.
KANSAS CITY, Kan. – James Richard “Dick” Powell passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Feb. 10, 2025. He was born on Feb. 28, 1937, to Marion Caryll and Eva Maude (Lizar) Powell, in Trimble, Missouri. He attended school at East Buchanan High School in Gower, Missouri, where he was active in many sports and was quarterback and captain of the Bulldog football team. He graduated in 1955.
He then went on to college at Northwest Missouri State College in Maryville Mo where he continued his football career and was a member of the Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity. He majored in business and physical education, graduating in 1959.
He married his high school sweetheart, Norma Jean Giddens, on Aug. 10, 1957, then began his football coaching career in Maysville, Missouri, at the same time welcoming their first daughter. They then relocated to Blue Springs, Missouri, where he coached at Blue Springs High School. Then on to Grandview High School. During this time, they welcomed their second daughter.
In 1968 Dick began his career with Jostens selling class rings, caps and gowns and announcements. This took the family to Bowling Green, Ohio, then relocating to Chanute, Kansas, in 1973. He would stay a valuable and celebrated employee with Jostens until his retirement in 2000.
After Dick lost his first love Norma Jean, he met Betty Jo McNett, and they married in 1998. They blended their two loving families together seamlessly and made many happy memories until Betty’s death in 2001.
Dick moved to the Kansas City area to be near his girls in 2003 where he started working in the fishing department at Cabela’s. Not long after, he met Mary Fauchier who remained his long time companion. He remained with Cabela’s until 2023.
Dick is survived by daughters, Susan Kerns, Shawnee, Kansas, Diane Caldwell (Bob), Coffeyville Kansas; grandchildren, MacKenzie Nelson (Erik), Camas, Washington, Jordy Brady (Billy) Kansas City, Missouri, Abbie Enlow (Nick), Olathe, Kansas; great-grandchildren, Solveig and Luke Nelson and Rider and Rollie Enlow; sister, Linda Bristow, Nashville, Tennessee; brother and sister-in-law, John and Judy Giddens, St. Joseph, and Mary Fauchier, Overland Park Kansas.
Dick is preceded in death by his parents; brother, Bob Powell; wives, Norma and Betty Jo; son-in-law, JD Kerns; grandsons, Andrew and Alex Eli.
Memorial Service will be at 1 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21, at Hixson-Klein Funeral Home ,in Gower, Missouri.
Family inurnment will be held later at Frazier Cemetery.
Arrangements by Hixson-Klein Funeral Home, Gower. As published in the St. Joseph News-Press.
