A.T. Audrie Talmadge Powell

A.T. (Audrie Talmadge) Powell, age 78, passed away peacefully at home in Salado, Texas on February 10, 2023.

A.T. was born on July 19, 1944 to Carrie Lorene (Black) Powell and Edward Talmadge Powell in Corsicana, Texas.  There he rode Vespa scooters around town and loved and played music with his band The Monarchs. He graduated from Corsicana High School in 1962, where he was a very proud member of the Corsicana Tiger Marching Band, serving as band president his senior year.

                He went on to study music and biology at Navarro Junior College graduating in 1964 with an Associate Degree. He then attended Stephen F. Austin State University, graduating with a BS degree in 1967. He was an active member of Phi Mu Alpha and Phi Delta Kappa.  Shorty After graduating from SFA, he enlisted in the United States Air Force. He was stationed at Goodfellow Air Force Base, San Angelo, Texas where he served for four years.  He was an Education Specialist at the Russian Language School and completed his commitment with the rank of SGT.  During his time in the Air Force, he was part of a NASA experiment where he lived in an altitude chamber testing the effects of high altitude on humans for 60 days.  This experiment was part of a research program for low orbit and extended space flight, which he continued to be interested in his entire lifetime.

After his time in the Air Force, he began his work as a Band director at Fairway Middle School. During this time he studied at Tarleton State University in the summer breaks and received his MS in education in 1977.  He then moved on to become a band director at Manor Middle School and progressed to assistant principal.  In 1982 he moved to Killeen High School and worked as an assistant principal until he became the principal at Rancier Middle School in 1986. He continued in this role until retirement in May, 2000.  He loved to work at the KISD schools and worked with Herff Jones for years following while also working for the Texas State Board of Education. 

A.T. was a long time member of the Killeen Rotary Club where he was a Paul Harris Fellow.  He was an active member at Grace Lutheran church and served as Choir director for a time. Later he moved to Salado United Methodist Church as the Powell’s moved to live in Salado. He played in the Harker Heights Concert Band and Jazz Ensembles. He had several other bands playing around town. He was also a freelance instrument repairman bringing horns and woodwinds back to life for another year of use in school.  A.T. loved model trains and was part of the Model Train Society who built massive layouts and elaborate realistic models together.  He love boating and traveling to Islands and beaches around the world. He also loved Alaska and the calm that the wilderness and mountains provided him. He was a Vespa, Lambretta and Cushman fanatic and loved to restore these vehicles and ride on two wheels.  Above all of these things, he loved his family most of all and cherished every moment with them. 

A.T. married his SFA girlfriend Cheryl Kay Lewis in 1968. They lived in San Angelo, Texas where they had a baby girl, Wendy Kay Powell in 1971. They moved to Killeen, Texas in 1972 and began their central Texas lives.  Here they had a son, Michael Scott Powell in 1976.  

A.T. had a large family and he was predeceased by his parents: Carrie Lorene (Black) Powell and Edward Talmadge Powell: his sister, Barbara Warfield, Eula and Jim Bob Black: daughter-in-law, Kelly (Pack) Powell, and grandson, Trevor Cook.

He is survived by his wife, Cheryl Kay Powell; daughter, Wendy Kay Powell-Cook and son-in- law Todd Cook ,and grandson Charlie of Dallas,; son, Michael Scott Powell of Cedar Park; brother, Mark and his wife Cindy Powell of Corsicana; his niece, Emily Glidewell and her children: Lilly and Gavin of Corsicana and Alan and Courtney Powell and their son little August of West.

A celebration of life will be held at Salado United Methodist Church on Saturday, March 4 at 1PM located at 650 Royal St. Salado, Texas 76571

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