Diana Powers

Diana M. Powers, 78, of Clarkston, passed away Sunday, June 19, 2016, from complications of a stroke. She battled multiple myeloma for many years and had recently been diagnosed with adenocarcinoma, another form of cancer.

Diana was born Feb. 13, 1938, in Lewiston, to LeRoy and Edith (Petersen) Meyer. She grew up in Clarkston and graduated from Clarkston High School in 1956. She attended and graduated from beauty school, but with five children being more important, she never worked outside the home.

She married Bill Ruchert in 1956. Three children were born from this union, Cindy, Chuck and Shelly. They divorced and then she met the love of her life, Bob Powers. They married Sept. 3, 1969. Bob had two children, Lisa and Jon. Together they happily merged their families and lives, then went on to enjoy 43 happy years until Bob passed in 2012.

Diana and Bob loved to dance and were league bowlers for many years. They had many memories from traveling to bowling tournaments throughout the U.S. with friends. They had special memories of their trips to Tennessee to visit Bob's family. For many years, they had a trailer at Badger Lake, where they loved to spend summers fishing and boating with family and friends. They also had a cabin at Rose Springs in Garfield County. Many fond memories were made snowmobiling, sledding and spending time around campfires with their children and grandchildren. She really enjoyed traveling with the Stewarts, the Branches and the Wickershams, and was proud to have traveled to all 50 states.

Diana was devoted to her family. She always said her greatest gift in life was being a grandma. She never missed a grandchild's event unless weather or illness kept her from it. She loved being around family and friends.

She is survived by her brother, Bob (Judy) Meyer; and sisters-in-law Julie Wickersham, Lou, Gladys and Jean Powers. She is also survived by her five children and their families, daughter Cindy (Sal) Jerez and their children, Elizabeth (Travis) Scheibe, Heather Allen, Katherine Allen, Sophia (Henry), Adonai, Zaria and Joey Jerez and Emmanuel (Elizabeth) Quinta; her son Chuck (Sandee) Ruchert and children Jason (Jenny) Ruchert, Christopher (Melissa) Ruchert, Charlee-Anne (Tyler) Hall; daughter Lisa (Jeff) Smith and her children Zach and Caleb Smith; daughter Shelly (Dan) Kennedy and her children, Tyler, Brian and Robert Kennedy; and son Jon Powers. She has also been blessed with nine great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Bob; and one great-granddaughter, Tori Ruchert.

Services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at Malcom's Brower-Wann Funeral Home in Lewiston, with a dinner to follow.

Special thanks to the staff at St. Joseph Oncology Center for the care and compassion over the past seven years, as well as the staff at Tri-State Memorial Hospital, for the comfort they provided allowing mom to pass peacefully. Memorials can be made to either of these organizations.