Peggy Powell's Obituary
On April 26, 2025, our joyful, vibrant prayer warrior, Peggy Joy Hogan Powell, began speaking with the Lord face to face.
Family who will greet her in Heaven include: her son, Stanley Mark Powell, her parents, John and Dixie Hogan, her in-laws, Boone and Ruth Powell, her sister, Jan Hogan Larkey, and her sister-in-law Jerry Powell Lund.
Family who longs to join her someday: husband, Boone Powell, Jr, daughter Crystal Colombo, daughter Cari Kelemen and husband Russ, daughter-in-law Becky Powell Jamail and husband David, her seven grandchildren: Madison Powell Pallas and husband Mauricio, Boone Hogan Powell and wife Sabrina, John Luke Powell, Grace Colombo Fazand and husband Taylor, Cooper Kelemen, Cassie Joy Kelemen Ivey and husband Tyler, Catie Kelemen Verkler and husband Caleb, and her great grandchildren: Finley Anne, Ryder Lee and Wyatt Lee Fazand, Jonathan Hogan Verkler and Violet Joy Ivey.
Peggy was born on July 19, 1937 in Big Spring, Texas to Dr. and Mrs. John E. Hogan. She received a Bachelors of Education from Baylor University in 1959. On June 7, 1958, she married the love of her life, Boone Powell, Jr. from Dallas and they celebrated 68 wonderful years of marriage together. “A truly good wife is the most precious treasure a man can find!” (Proverbs 31:10)
Boone received a Masters in Hospital Administration from UC Berkeley, where their first child, Mark was born. After a short residency in Memphis, Boone and Peggy settled in Abilene, Texas where Boone became the president of Hendricks Medical Center and Crystal and Cari joined the family.
During their 19 years in Abilene, Peggy used her gift of teaching in many ways in their church’s college, junior and high school departments, and at Vacation Bible School and Backyard Bible Clubs. Her Bible stories told with a flannel board were legendary. Most significantly, in 1969 the Powells helped to start Abilene Young Life, a ministry that shares the Gospel with teenagers, which is still going strong.
In 1980, Boone and Peggy relocated to Dallas when Boone became President/CEO of Baylor University Medical Center. In 1981, they started a ministry for engaged couples at Park Cities Baptist Church called The Nearly Weds which they taught for 19 years before handing it off to others. They also continued their involvement in Young Life at the national level.
With boundless energy, Peggy enthusiastically led Cousins Camp for a week every summer for her seven cherished grandchildren, who lovingly called their grandparents “Hunny and Boomer.” She assigned to each of them a day of the week and faithfully prayed for them, especially on their day, for many years. She multiplied this passion by beginning a ministry called Praying Grandmothers that highlights specific scriptures that can apply to grandchildren.
Another gift of Peggy’s was hospitality, and she used it with extravagance. Her home was always open to others and there was always a seat at her table for someone who was new to town or just new to her. She was lavish with her love and treated everyone as though they were family.
She was always thinking of others with great empathy and finding ways to serve and encourage them. With an uncanny ability to put herself in someone else’s shoes, she tried to feel what others might be feeling. She had a “writing ministry” that extended to family, friends and even the incarcerated. For friends newly widowed, she sent them a hand-written card every month for a year and had a stack of cards to mail to them all for Valentine’s Day.
She was a voracious student of the Bible, a gracious hostess, a faithful and devoted wife, mother and friend, but most importantly of all, she was a true prayer warrior. We will never know this side of Heaven the ripple effect or the eternal impact of the prayers of Peggy Powell.
“Because He bends down and listens, I will pray as long as I breathe!” (Psalm 116:2)
A Celebration of the Life of Peggy Powell Friday, May 16, at 11:00 am
Ellis Chapel at Park Cities Baptist Church 3933 Northwest Parkway, Dallas, Texas 75225.
A reception immediately following the service will be held in Ellis Parlor.
In lieu of flowers, kindly consider helping Northeast Texas kids attend a Young Life summer camp.
https://giving.younglife.org/NETXCampershipPeggyPowell
Or mail a check to Young Life with 'Peggy Powell Campership' in the memo to:
Young Life NETX 11300 North Central Expressway, Suite
Dallas, TX 75243
FROM PEGGY
"WRITTEN FEBRUARY 25, 2021"
On July 19, 1937, in Big Spring, Texas, I was born to John and Dixie Hogan. In April 1946 I was born again into the family of God.
The invisible me—my spiritual heart, my soul and my spirit were inside my body on planet earth. Now my body died on [April 26, 2025] but I am very much alive in Heaven.
I want you to come to Heaven too when your earthly life is over. The Bible in Romans 3:23 says “All have
sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 6:23 says “The penalty of sin is death.”
Since Heaven is perfect, not one human who has sinned can come in. God loves every human being ever born on the earth. He loves us so much, He made a payment for every sin committed since the first people, Adam and Eve. Here is how:
John 3:16 says that God so loved the world—not just good or nice people, but ALL people of all races, all continents and all generations—He loved us so much He gave His only son, Jesus, so that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.
Jesus never sinned. Not ever. He lived on earth more than 30 years and did not sin one time. So, God gave His only Son, who was perfect, to die for each of us. He qualified to give His life for our sins.
“As man as received Christ, to them He gave the right to become children of God.” (John 1:12) Because Jesus Christ paid for our sins through His death on the cross and proved by His resurrection that He indeed is the Son of God, I can receive Christ by faith, trusting Him for life everlasting.
How did I receive Christ Jesus, the Son of God? By asking Him to come into my life. I became His child, and He became my Heavenly Father. You can ask Him now with a prayer from your heart. Here is a sample:
“Dear Lord, I realize that I am a sinner, and I now trust You to come into my life and forgive me. Make me the person You want me to be. Thank you for loving me so much. Amen.”
Christianity is not a religion—it is a relationship with God, the Maker of Heaven and Earth. A religion is man
seeking God, but in Christianity, God seeks man. He initiates with love, and we respond.
He actually resides within me and I in Him. “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.” (2 Corinthians 5:17) “In Christ you have been made complete.” (Colossians 2:10)
Some people think we go to Heaven if we are kind and nice people, or we attend church, or we help the needy, or we don’t do any really bad sins. Even though these things may be good, Jesus was clear: “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6) And we are warned not to fall for the tricks and lies of the devil, who is the enemy of God. (John 8:44)
If you have prayed to receive Jesus Christ, seek someone who is a mature Christian who can help you
understand the Bible, which contains everything you need to know to do God’s will. Find a Christ-honoring
church and attend a Bible study for new Christians. Learn to pray and make it a daily habit. Read outstanding books highly recommended by great Christians. Keep growing closer to God’s truth and have delight and zeal for learning and doing His will for the rest of your life.
If you have a pulse, you have a purpose. Seek God’s will and do it. May God bless you abundantly.
What’s your fondest memory of Peggy?
What’s a lesson you learned from Peggy?
Share a story where Peggy's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Peggy you’ll never forget.
How did Peggy make you smile?