Obituaries

December 1, 1936 to August 25, 2014

PLANO, TEXAS - Jonathan Dixie Powers, 77, passed away Monday, Aug. 25, at his home in Plano, Texas, surrounded by family after a long battle with lung problems.

He was born Dec. 1, 1936, in Winamac, a son of the late Thurman Earl and Ethel Kuntz. On Jan 2, 1960, he married Shirley Ann Scott. She survives.

Also surviving are three daughters, Julie Schoerke of Nashville, Diane Groves and husband, Mark of Plano, and Jill Powers, formerly of Plano; and 4 grandchildren, Chandler and Amanda Schoerke of Nashville, and Benjamin and Madeline Groves of Plano.

Mr. Powers grew up in South Bend, and graduated from Riley High School, and continued his education at Indiana University where he graduated with honors with a degree in radio-television creative writing. He served three years as a motion picture project officer in the U. S. Air Force. After his service he worked for Centron Corporation in Lawrence, Kansas, where he created educational films and produced films for many Fortune 500 companies. He left Centron as general manager in 1986. The last job of his career was at the Missouri Department of Conservation where he was director of public affairs and enjoyed being the voice for the wonderful wildlife of Missouri. He and his wife enjoyed 20 years in Jefferson City. In 2006 he moved to Plano, Texas, where he and his wife could be near family and 2 of their 4 grandchildren. Throughout his life he loved to fish. When it was too cold to fish, he loved woodworking. He took great pride in making pieces of furniture used by the family including two cradles for grandbabies. He was a voracious reader, a love for literature that he passed on to his family. For 54 years he showed the love of his life how much he cared and was always her best friend. He always put his family first and was his children's No. 1 fishing buddy, home-work checker, storyteller, project mentor, "leprechaun hunter," bedtime story-reader, and consoler.

A private memorial service will be held Sept. 6. 

Expressions of sympathy may be made to the Nature Conservancy in Arlington, Virginia.