Ardath Powell

Ardath Lee Powell 1934 - 2012 Ardath Lee Powell was born January 12, 1934 in Carrolton, Arkansas, the youngest of John and Beulah's four children. When Dad was only 3 years old, he and his family headed to Washington state to pick fruit. Unfortunately, they had to stop in Meridian as Dad had pneumonia. They settled in Meridian, but lived at Thorn Creek in the summers while his Dad and oldest brother Norman cut trees for the Harris Brother's lumber mill in Idaho City. Growing up in Meridian, Dad and his brothers had many adventures, including climbing the Creamery smokestack to retrieve his pants, and rolling the football field water wagon across town before spending the rest of the night rolling it back after the police caught them. He worked at McFadden's Grocery for many years, starting in the 8th grade. This is where he learned the meat cutting trade, which became his lifelong vocation. Dad worked at Keim's, McClusky's Commissary, and Van's Meatpacking before starting a meat business with his brother-in-law, Virgil Hicks. They operated Quality Mart for 30 years before retiring, Dad at age 60. Dad married the love of his life, Elaine Rossow, on July 17, 1953. They had amazingly been in the same class through the 8th grade, then the same high school, graduating in 1952. Ardath and Elaine had 4 daughters--Janell, Lori, Kathy and Cristy. Family was the most important thing in Dad's life, and he was the biggest kid when it came to having fun. We grew up camping, fishing and hunting. He especially enjoyed golfing at Eagle Hills with "the crew". Dad loved to play jokes on people, and almost everyone he knew was the recipient of one of his jokes at one time or another. He was a member of Ten Mile Christian Church. Dad suffered from early onset Alzheimer's for nearly a decade, with the final chapter of his life completed on July 3, after 78 years of a wonderful life. Mom took care of Dad at home for many years, until her daughters felt her health was in danger from all the exhausting care she was providing Dad. Ardath was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and a sister. He is survived by his wife, Elaine, daughters Janell (Bob) Carr, Kathy (Dean) Daniel, Cristy Stockinger, all of Boise, and Lori Taylor (Cindy) of Spokane, WA. He is also survived by grandchildren Eric, Allison, Morgan, Jake and Greyson, as well as nieces Belle, Linda, Sandy & Karyn, and nephews John & Dan. We would like to thank Emerson House for keeping Dad safe and comfortable the past two years, and Eric Collett for being Dad's special friend. Eric and his staff fall into the saintly category! We would also like to thank Heart 'n Home Hospice for looking after the welfare of the entire family the past few months. Cremation was under the direction of Summers Funeral Home. A Celebration of Life will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, 7/28, at the La Mirada Clubhouse, 5960 Rio Vista Way, Meridian, ID. Please bring your "Art" stories to share. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Ardath's name to Alzheimer's Idaho Inc, P.O. Box 249, 13601 W. McMillan Road, Boise, ID 83713, to help others in Idaho with this devastating disease.