Johan Powers

(From Carson-Wall Funeral Home)

S. Johan Powers, 92, of Parsons, died at 5 p.m., Sunday, May 17, 2020 at her home following a period of failing health.

She was born December 2, 1927, at Dallas, Texas, to Louis Elmo and Ida May (Merwin) Willis. At the age of two her family returned to the rural area north of Parsons in Neosho County. She graduated from Parsons High School and Kansas State University at Manhattan.

In September of 1949 she and Charles A. Powers were married. His career as a civil engineer took the family to many places to live, including St. Francis, KS, three cities in the state of California where their three children were born, Baton Rouge, LA, Oklahoma City, OK, Khartoum, Sudan, San Jose, Costa Rica and Cochabamba, Bolivia.

Johan returned to Parsons in 1971 and following her divorce in 1972 she began working at Grandview Products in the office. She left that employment to care for her elderly parents until their deaths and then began employment in the office at Labette Community College, from where she later retired.

She was a member of the Faith United Methodist Church and especially was involved with her family. Growing up on a farm she could do many of the household chores she learned in her childhood.

Survivors include her three children, Carol Rabig (Tony) of Parsons, Brian Powers (Karen) of Aurora, CO and Craig Powers of Parsons; four grandchildren and their families, Jennifer Rhoades (Justin) of Denver, CO, Stephanie Holding (Chris) and their children Kaylee and Ian of Parsons, Shaun Powers (Ji Un) and their children Brandon and Ivy of Aurora, CO and Devin Rabig (Lisa) and their son Nathaniel of Parsons; and two brothers Richard Willis of Wichita and Rollin Willis (Laquetta) of Irving, TX.

Preceding her in death were her parents, a brother Robert Willis and two sisters-in-law, Verna Willis and Ellen Willis.

Private Funeral services will be at 10 a.m., Thursday, at the Carson-Wall Funeral Home, with Pat McReynolds officiating. Burial will be in Mt. Hope Cemetery at Galesburg.

Friends are welcome to sign the register at the funeral home until 8 p.m., Wednesday. Memorials are suggested to the Labette Community College Foundation. They may be left at or sent to the funeral home at Box 942, Parsons, KS 67357. Online messages may be left at www.wallfuneralservices.com.