Jerry Powell

Jerry peacefully passed away Saturday evening June 27, 2026, after a long battle with dementia at Pemberley Assisted living in Sandy, Utah.

Jerry was born on October 10, 1929, in the home of Myrle and Clarence Bean in Teton City, Idaho. She was the last of four children. Glen, Max, and Thayl all welcomed their baby sister with great enthusiasm. They lived on a farm with chickens, lambs, horses and lots of cats and treasured dogs. Grandpa Bean built chapels for the LDS church and Grandma Bean was a home maker, nurturing four children, making wonderful meals, quilting, canning and gardening. Jerry, however, began taking a different path learning to play the piano and found herself in love with music, especially when playing the piano. She studied and practiced constantly and found herself performing often at church, school and for family. Before she would perform and while riding on the bus, she would practice with her hands on her lap and the music in her mind to prepare. Excellence was the goal.

Jerry continued to study music throughout her life at Ricks College, and the University of Utah. She obtained concert level performance recognition and belonged to the elitist group of women from all over the city named the “Squeak and Squawk,” club where musicians and singers performed for each other, shared lunch and the latest news together every other month. She felt it an honor to perform for her peers and Jerry loved it! She would perform in the Assembly Hall, on Temple Square, regularly. She studied under Mack Wilberg and played with many accomplished musicians. Along with teaching up to 80 students a month she was a mother of 4 children and a homemaker. She served her Father in Heaven constantly. She fulfilled many callings in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints including twice as Relief Society President.

She met her eternal sweetheart at a school dance, and it was love at first site. They married in the Idaho Falls Temple on November 21,1949. She had faithfully waited for Dick LeRoy Powell while he served an LDS mission and military deployment. Finally, they were sealed for time and all eternity. She mothered 5 children along while continuing to be a frontrunner in defining a woman’s role in the 50’s 60’s and 70’s changing a lot of cultural barriers for women. “You go Jerry,” even to the ripe age of 96 years of age! She has been such an example to her posterity, and we all hope to make her proud. She outlived all her wonderful friends in the Hawthorne Ward except for Diane Wilkey!

Her immediate family have proceeded her in death along with 3 children. Scott Leroy, Richard Todd and Alyson Ann (Olson) Powell and her sweetheart and devoted companion Dick Leroy Powell.

She is survived by Jerry Kim Powell (Wendy) Stephen Troy Powell. Thirteen grandchildren and twenty-one great grandchildren. Jerry Powell has endured well through many challenges, and we her family are sure the Lord is saying, “Well done thou good and faithful servant.” Matthew 25:21

Funeral services will be held on Friday, July 10, 2026 at 11:30 am at the Emerson Ward, 808 East Roosevelt Avenue (1455 South), Salt Lake City. A viewing will be held prior to services from 9:30-11:00 am. Interment will take place at 2:30 pm at Elysian Gardens Cemetery, 1075 East 4580 South, Millcreek, Utah.