Judy Denece Powell's Obituary
Judy Denece Abbett Powell passed away on June 24th, 2026, in Dallas, Texas. She was born August 11, 1942 in Del Rio, Val Verde County, Texas, daughter of Elmer Eldon and Elsie Leola Foster Abbett. She graduated as Salutatorian from Del Rio High School in 1960. She then attended Abilene Christian College where she formed many lifelong friendships. There too she met her beloved husband Gene Powell.
Denece Abbett and Gene Arliss Powell were married on September 4, 1961 in Del Rio, Texas at the Central Church of Christ on Spring Street. The couple lived in Abilene for over a year, then moved to Irving, Texas where her two sons were born. She supported Gene’s service business by taking phone calls and doing his bookwork. In 1972, the family moved to Garland where Gene had an opportunity to open a Conn Organ dealership. At the store, she performed much of the office work. In 1982, they chose to sell their store as the music industry was changing. That year she began working for Gwen Tauzin Realtors as Office Manager until September 2003 when she effectively retired due to ovarian cancer. After a successful surgery, she was a cancer survivor for 23 years.
Denece was a member of Prestoncrest Church of Christ. During her years there she was involved with teaching children’s Bible classes, Grief Recovery classes for women, and performed research on the church’s history for the book Prestoncrest: The First Forty Years.
Denece loved to travel and entertain. She also had many hobbies. She was very interested in family genealogy. She took joy in making corsages or flower arrangements for special events. She did a lot of sewing, making drapes and clothes for herself and sons, as well as clothes for her granddaughter’s teddy bears, dolls, and “dress-up” clothes. She loved to cook and gathered a large collection of recipes. She also loved to read books, particularly the old classics.
Through the years she learned "Life is Good", "Less is More", and to say, "It Served its Purpose". Above all, in her heart she knew she had been
wonderfully blessed in this life, and she felt great appreciation for all God's care for her in this time on earth.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Eldon and Elsie Abbett, her husband Gene Powell, and her sister Danah Abbett.
Denece is survived by her sons Eric Powell (Jennifer), of Garland, Texas and Karlton Powell (Lisa), of Kansas City, Missouri. She is also survived by granddaughters, Lauren Powell of Garland, Texas and Melissa Powell, of Dallas, Texas, and grandsons Alexander Powell (Haley), Adam Powell and Alan Powell of Kansas City, Missouri. She is survived by great-grandsons Whittaker and Russell Powell, also of Kansas City, Missouri.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM on Friday July 3, 2026 in the Memorial Chapel at Restland Funeral Home. The family will receive friends beginning at 9:30 AM at Restland.
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