Kenneth "Buddy" Wayne Powell was born on January 1, 1940 in Josserand, Texas at his family home. He peacefully returned to his
heavenly home Thursday, April 13, 2023 at the age of 83. Buddy was the youngest of eight children born to George Washington
Powell and Isabell Mullins. He grew up on Josserand Road across from the Josserand Baptist Church that his mom regularly
attended. His father passed away when Buddy was just two years of age. Buddy grew up in an era that had no indoor plumbing so
the family typically kept their milk in the well so it would keep cool.
Ken attended Groveton School District where he excelled in sports including football, basketball, and track. While growing up in
Groveton, he made lifelong friends who lovingly nicknamed him Buddy which he retained for his entire life. He learned about
working hard from his single mom and he also enjoyed working which made him a very successful businessman. Ken attended Texas
A&M University and graduated with a degree in accounting. He married Ann Netta Kennedy after his second year of college and had
two children, Greg and Cheryl, during his college years. He loved Texas A&M University and always rooted for them, especially when
playing against t.u.
Upon graduation from Texas A&M, Ken worked for Cameron Iron Works and Temple Industries in the accounting department. He
was later hired by Hess Oil Company to start up the accounting practice for a new refinery in St. Croix of the U.S. Virgin Islands. This
refinery would later become the largest refinery in the world. He then returned to Houston, Texas working for a computer company
while Ann ran Creative Care Children Center. He soon decided to focus on building and expanding Creative Care Children's Center
schools. To expand the business, he started Powell Construction, building children's centers and other commercial projects. When
not working, Ken found time to start sailing on Galveston Bay and learned to fly airplanes and helicopters. His flying hobby
developed into a business when he bought an aviation business and started flying across the United States. Ken had several
emergency flight landings and even ended up on the evening news after landing on a road at nighttime. When he cut back on his
aviation business, he focused again on the childcare industry and expanded his vision from two to nine schools. This then allowed
him to begin purchasing land in Groveton where he started ranching. He began with five longhorn heifers, which he personally
named, and a borrowed bull. He always kept his heifers and bought and added a heard of black and red brangus cows to build his total
herd to around 650 head. He had lots of help and advice with ranching, especially from his friends at the local donut shop. During
this time Ken was married to Donna Kidwell, who played an important role in his business and personal life.
Buddy loved to travel and especially enjoyed snow skiing with family and friends. Ken was preceded in death by his parents, George
and Isabell Powell; brothers: Donald, James, and Leroy Powell; sisters: Eva Connell Earls, Audie Johnson, and Marie Corgey; grandson,
Thomas Blair, Jr. Ken is survived by his children: son, Greg Powell and wife, Deborah Powell of Galveston, TX; daughter, Cheryl Blair
and husband, Tom Blair of Plano, TX; sister, Helen Eggink of Plano, TX; grandchildren: Krystal McCarthy and husband, Ryan, Taylor
Powell, Taryn Cook and husband, Charles, and Lexie Blair; step-grandchildren: Danielle Carr and husband, Wayne, Austin Read, and
Caroline Read; great-grandchildren: Tiago Powell, Mateo Powell, Griffin McCarthy, Clover McCarthy, and Palmer Cook; step-great
grandchild, Isla Carr; mother in love: Christine Kennedy; special friend, Linda Garner; best friend, Billie Jean Horan; and a host of nieces and nephews.
Visitation for Mr. Kenneth "Buddy" Wayne Powell will begin Thursday, April 20, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. until service time at 2:00 p.m. in
the Cartwright Memorial Chapel of Groveton Funeral Home with Roxanne Worsham officiating. Burial will follow in Glenwood
Cemetery in Groveton, TX. All are invited to a reception following the burial at Groveton Methodist Church.
Please share your memories with the family by signing the guestbook at www.grovetonfuneralhome.com
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in memory of Buddy Powell at Groveton Ex-Students Association, PO Box 70,
Groveton, TX 75845. Checks made payable to the Groveton Ex-Students Association.