Obituary of Lucille Marie Powell

Lucille Marie Fornash Powell, loved all children Lucille Marie Fornash Powell was a homemaker who devoted her life to taking care of children. Mrs. Powell, 81, of Fort Thomas, died Thursday at Highlands of Fort Thomas nursing home. In addition to her own four children, Mrs. Powell also helped raise several family members, according to her daughter, Norma Smith, of Edgewood. "Her heart just went out to kids," said Smith. "The more she had, the happier she was." Family members described her as a foster mother before there were foster mothers. They say she would take in children from broken homes or baby-sit for single mothers. Sometimes, when those children's parents couldn't take care of them, she wound up keeping the youngsters for several years. "She was so very giving, she never thought of herself," said Smith. Later, Mrs. Powell turned her attention to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren She was also very active in the Decoursey Baptist Church in Covington, where Roy Powell, her husband of 64 years, was a deacon. She taught Sunday school and vacation Bible school, among other activities. Her mother loved yard sales and spent many weekends looking for bargains in Northern Kentucky neighborhoods, Smith said. The Powells were longtime residents of Independence and lived there for 30 years until Mrs. Powell's failing health made her move to the nursing home necessary. "Their life together was a real love story," said Smith. "When my mom got sick, dad sold the house and moved" to a house at the end of the nursing home driveway to be close to her. Mrs. Powell was a former member of the Order of the Eastern Star and White Shrine of Jerusalem No. 10. Surviving in addition to her husband and daughter are a son, Leroy Powell of Newport; two other daughters, Sue Harvey of Jacksonville, Fla., and JoAnn Hammons of Morning View; nine grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Chambers & Grubbs Funeral Home, Independence. Visitation will be there Sunday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Burial will be in Floral Hills Cemetery in Taylor Mill. Memorials are suggested to may be made to Decoursey Baptist Church, 8276 Decoursey Pike, Covington, 41015.