Obituary:

JEWEL WILSON POWERS, was born 22 November 1912 in Grimes County, Texas to Florence (Williamson) and Calvert D. Wilson. In 1931, she married Duncan Grant Thomas, had a son, Robert Darrell Thomas, after having moved to Houston. They divorced in 1935. In 1937, she married James E. Powers, who died in 1975. They had a son, James W. Powers, who predeceased her in 1991. They had a daughter, Deborah Florence Powers. Jewel died 26 July 2005 in Austin, Texas. Jewel's great-great grandfather, James Wilson, fought at the Battle of San Jacinto to free Texas from Mexico. She devoted her life to patriotic, historical, benevolent, and Christian service. She was active in Girl Scouts nearly 20 years, and served as Editor of the district's Girl Scout Trails magazine. She published many yearbooks for the patriotic societies to which she belonged: Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), The Daughters of the Republic of Texas (DRT), The San Jacinto Descendants, The United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC), Colonial Dames of the XVII Century, the Sons and Daughters of the Pilgrims, the Jamestown Society, Daughters of American Colonists, Magna Charta Dames, and Americans of Royal Descent. She organized new chapters, and served as chairman of many chapter, state and national committees, and as President of UDC, USD 1812, and Colonial Dames XVII C chapters. She compiled genealogical information for her book, The Family of Jewel Wilson Powers, which her son and daughter published after she suffered a devastating stroke in 1995. Jewel was baptized into the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Madison County at age 13. In 1949 she became a communicant of the Episcopal Church, where she served as a member of the Altar Guild and the Women's Association. Jewel's hope for a college education ended with the stock market crash in 1929, however, she educated herself by attending night school, and auditing courses at the University of Houston. Her thirst for knowledge never ended. She took pride in doing her best at everything she did. She was a great seamstress, quilter, cook, gardener, camper, homemaker and writer. Jewel is survived by her son, Robert D. Thomas and wife, Jewell, and daughter, Deborah and husband, Michael E. Bentley; four grandchildren: Lea and husband, Ray Brown; Celeste Thomas and husband, Tim Seay; James Cameron Thomas; and Hannah Bentley; three great-grandchildren: Leslie Brown, Chelsey and Taylor Seay. Jewel's wishes were to be cremated and to rest beside her husband of nearly 40 years, in Memorial Oaks Cemetery, in Houston. Family will gather at graveside, Saturday, 6 August 2005, 10:00 am. No flowers, please. Donate a book to a library, contribute to a church, charity, or scholarship fund in her honor.

Published by Houston Chronicle on Aug. 4, 2005.