On the evening of February 17, 2020, Jean Powell passed away as the result of a stroke. She was surrounded by her family and close friends, and they were blessed to spend some days together talking and sharing stories, music, tears, laughter, and so much love. Jean was 84 years old.
Jean (Robinson) Powell was born on September 7, 1935 in Livingston, Montana to Richard and Gertrude (Cook) Robinson in the maternity hospital of her grandmother, Ellen (Allen) Robinson, who was the first resident nurse of Park County. Jean grew up during the Great Depression and WWII with the support of both grandmothers, Ellen, and Katherine “Mama” Cook, and her aunt, Addie (Cook) Nicholson, and she cherished these loving and accomplished women for modeling the woman she would later become.
In High school, Jean was well-liked and made friends to whom she remained close her entire life. A member of Girls’ State, the National Honor Society, and numerous other organizations, she was capable and popular. Her favorite times were spent with friends engaging in witty repartee or pulling funny pranks. She had a talent for sharing laughter with people this way. Jean worked throughout high school as a photo developer for Sax and Fryor’s in Livingston, and later in Phoenix, Arizona. Here she began developing her skill as a photographer. As a young co-ed from the University of Montana in Missoula, she and her college roommate Andrea, spent three months traveling in Italy, France, and England.
After returning from Europe, Jean married the man she loved, Donald R. Powell of Livingston, and began a new type of adventure. They left for Portland, Oregon where their eldest daughter, Tamala Jo was born, but moved back to Montana for the births of their son, David Michael and second daughter, Lesley Anne. Eventually the family settled in White Sulphur Springs, not far from their hometown. Summers were spent visiting Yellowstone Park, where both Jean and her husband had worked summers, or camping at Pine Creek south of Livingston, and several times driving to Canada and the West Coast.
Jean was the best kind of mother to her three children. Gentle, playful and nurturing, she fostered their natural curiosity, and was often seen with a carload of neighborhood kids “going exploring.” She always had time to listen, and for her entire life, her kids relied on her wise counsel. Active in her community, Jean was known for her skill at hosting parties and showers, and in 1972, she organized a petition to start a kindergarten class. It was successful, and just in time for her youngest daughter.
In 1973, the family moved to Big Timber, Montana, and Jean went back to work. She became Montana’s first woman offset press operator, working for the Big Timber Pioneer and the Buckskin Press. She applied her photographic skills to both enterprises and went on to submit some of her more artistic photographs to a contest in France. And she won. Unfortunately, Jean could not travel to France for her presentation because of a mysterious decline in her health.
In 1982, she suffered a major setback and became paralyzed down one leg. Her disability was permanent. But her outlook was always forward and she remained strongly connected to her friends and family, and characteristically accompanied by laughter. With the support of her husband, she continued her artistic endeavors, painting, sculpting, and driving the backroads of Montana with her camera. During the Fires of ’88 in Yellowstone, she photographed harrowing scenes of smoke, flames, and firefighters, one of whom was her grown son, and late one night, she and her daughter had to be evacuated from their hotel in West Yellowstone. Jean was delighted by the escapade.
It was not until 1990 that she found in an old medical text an explanation for her deteriorating health. She would tell the story of how she brought the information to her gastroenterologist. Could it be this Celiac (Sprue)? The reply: “You can’t have that, it’s a very rare disease.” Jean responded with her notoriously wry humor, “Well, if not me, then who?” As it turned out, Jean’s whole family was riddled with the genetic affliction, and nobody knew how to help.
Jean looked for anyone who might have this “rare” disorder, and found a few people in Bozeman, Montana. They met, and Montana Celiac Society was born. Jean began her life’s work in earnest, researching and distributing vital medical and dietary materials to desperate patients, and to doctors, schools, and food suppliers. She wrote articles, edited a monthly newsletter, compiled a manual for physicians, published books, brochures, pamphlets, and information packets for new patients. With a growing staff of dedicated volunteers, MCS organized medical conventions, outreach events, support groups, and fund raisers. Jean spent countless hours on the telephone coordinating and advocating for people who needed her expert help, and she was always available. Jean received awards for her work at MCS, including a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Dietetics Association of Montana, and 19 credits from the University of Maryland School of Medicine. She was honored by the accolades, yet her unilateral goal was always just to help people. Many give her credit for saving their lives, and it is their triumphs that gratified her most of all. For 25 years, Jean tirelessly administered her duties at Montana Celiac Society until her slowly failing eyesight forced her into retirement in 2015. She was 80 years old.
Despite tremendous adversity, Jean never lost her infectious joy of life, nor her unrelenting desire to help others. She was beautiful, funny, loving, and strong, and she will be missed beyond measure.
Jean was preceded in death by her fourteen-month-old great grandchild, Chamomile Jo Gonzalez McCord; mother and father, Gertrude (Cook) Robinson Bauer and Richard Henry Robinson; beloved aunt, Addie (Cook) Orser Nicholson Schultz; cherished grandmothers, Ellen and Katherine; and her life-long friend Marlys (Syvertson) Werle.
Jean is survived by her husband, Donald R. Powell of Bozeman, MT; three children, Tamala (Pete) Powell of Bozeman, David (Jana Noel) Powell of Sacramento, CA, and Lesley Anne Shelton of Port Townsend, WA; grandsons, Rio (Andrea) Gonzalez McCord of Butte, MT and Jerry Shelton of Seattle, WA; great grandson, Ezra (McCord) Shanafelt of Butte; sister, Lila “Punky” Robinson, and Pat (Elaine) Sakalaris of Miles City, MT; cousins, Ardith (and daughters, Ketha and Alexa) Robinson Carratt of Grandview, WA and David (Kathy, and daughters, Kelsey and Natalie) Robinson of Seattle, WA; brother-in-law, Kenneth (Shirley) Powell of Whitefish, MT; niece, Kenna Powell of Scottsdale, AZ, nephews, Gary (Lisa) Powell of Surprise, AZ and Reese Powell of Great Falls, MT; great nephew, Austin Powell of Great Falls, and great niece, Heidi (Powell) Vanamann of Whitefish; and many other adored relatives and friends.
A Summer Celebration of Jean’s Life is planned for the last weekend of June 2020 in Livingston, Montana.
Condolences and memorials may be sent to the home of Don and Jean Powell at 1019 S. Bozeman Ave., Apt. #3, Bozeman, MT 59715. In lieu of flowers, however, the family asks that donations be made to a nonprofit Celiac organization of choice.
The family wishes to extend a special thanks to Continental Care Center and Highlands Hospice, both of Butte, Montana. You and your caring staff made a special place for us to gather as a family. You helped us make a home, and we moved right in. Along with the tears, our mother’s final days were filled with love, song, stories, and always, always, laughter. We will be forever grateful to you. The family also wishes to thank Dr. Lesa Nitcy Hope. We could not have done without your friendship, and your expert guidance during this difficult time. You have our love always.
Please visit below to offer the family a condolence or to share a memory of Jean. Axelson Funeral and Cremation Services has been privileged to care for Jean and her family.
Please visit below to offer the family a condolence or to share a memory of Jean. Axelson Funeral and Cremation Services has been privileged to care for Jean and her family.
Dean & Sharon Branson says
We shared a grandmother and offer our deepest condolences in the loss of Jean. Grandma Robinson was the mother of Uncle Bert and the midwife for Dean’s birth in Livingston, MT. May God grant you comfort and peace.
Dean & Sharon Branson
dsbranson@torchlake.com
Donna Cheney says
Dear Don and Family,
We are so sorry to hear of your loss of Jean. We enjoyed our brief visits with her when we would see you at Wendy’s. She seemed like a very kind and special lady.
May you find peace and comfort, and may the Lord hold you in the palm of His hand.
Sincerely, Donna and Ted Cheney
JenniferMurillo says
Dear Jean Powell family,
She will be truly missed. I thoroughly enjoyed taking care of her while she was in our facility. I am so sorry for your loss and wish that I could have said goodbye to her in her last days. She was such a great joy to talk to. I will miss her dearly. All my love, Jen M.
Christina Depratu-Gray says
Dear Rio & Tamala , My heartfelt though’s and prayers are with you both. Your mother Jean was an amazing women , I would love to give respect to her life , and family . My Best Christina DePratu -Gray .
Mary DeBernardis RD,MS,LN says
I first met Jean at the Bozeman Deaconess presentation and she was my angel when she suggested I get tested for celiac disease as the cause of my irritable bowel syndrome. The test was not 100% positive but I went on a gluten-free diet and my irritable bowel syndrome went away. I shared this with the Montana dietetics so station and she received an award at one of our state Montana Dietetic conferences. My heart goes out to Tamala, Rio, Dawn and other family members.