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Dr. G. Pat Powers passed from this life on December 12, 2019 at Alliance Health in Durant, surrounded by his family. A celebration of his life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 17, 2019 at First Baptist Church, 124 Evergreen St. in Durant.
Pat was born December 22, 1932 to Samuel G. Powers and Laura (Basden) Powers in Ramer, Tennessee. Their family moved to Grandfield, Oklahoma when Pat was 2 years old. Pat graduated from Grandfield High School in 1950 and married Loeta (Patton) Powers on July 22, 1950 and they moved to Norman, Oklahoma to begin their studies at the University of Oklahoma, accompanied by their new son, Rocky. Pat completed his Bachelor of Science degree in 1955 and his family moved to Wichita Falls, Texas in 1956 where Pat taught Industrial Arts for one year.
Upon completing his Master of Science degree the following summer, they moved to Durant, Oklahoma where he began teaching classes in Industrial Arts at Southeastern State College. Pat was the youngest instructor on campus at that time. In 1959, the family moved to Columbia, Missouri where Pat began work on his doctorate degree. During that time, he began to transition into the field of Industrial Psychology and the study of Psychology.
After receiving his Doctor of Education degree, the family moved back to Durant and Southeastern where Pat began teaching Industrial Arts for one year before returning to the University of Missouri for a year of post-doctoral study to receive his accreditation as a psychologist. Moving back to Durant for the final time in 1963, Pat started the Psychology/Counseling department and the Student Counseling Center at Southeastern, where he acted as the first counselor and counseled part-time while teaching classes. Pat would continue to teach Psychology, Counseling, and Testing for a total of fifty years at Southeastern. During those years, he also served as Dean of Students for a time as well as serving as President of Oklahoma’s two professional counseling organizations, Mental Health Services of Southern Oklahoma and on the American Personnel and Guidance Association Senate. He was a charter member of the Youth Services of Bryan County Board of Directors and was instrumental in the inception of the Higher Education Center in Ardmore, Oklahoma.
Pat was preceded in passing by his parents, Sam and Laura Powers, his sister, Billie Anderson, and an infant brother, Junior Powers. He is survived by his wife of sixty-nine years, Loeta Powers, his son, Rocky Powers, his granddaughter, Courtney Wright, his grandson, Casey Powers and wife Alex, his great-grandson, Ash Powers, and his great-granddaughter, Greyson Powers, all of Durant, Oklahoma and nephews Rick Anderson and son, Clayton, and Kevin Anderson, all residents of Texas. Dr. G. Pat Powers – Pat, Dad, Grandaddy – had the faith of a child in his Lord, Jesus Christ. He loved and cared for his family. His grandchildren were the lights of his life. He was dedicated to teaching and to learning his life’s work.
Service are by Holmes~Coffey~Murray Funeral Home in Durant, Oklahoma. www.holmescoffeymurray.com
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