oapowers.html

The Oregonian, Portland, OR., July 27, 1983, page B8
Includes portrait

EDUCATOR ALFRED POWERS DIES

Alfred Powers, a teacher, author, scholar and historian of the Northwest, died in his Southwest Portland home Sunday. He was 96.
A memorial service will be held in Lewis and Clark College Chapel at 3 p.m. Wednesday. A private family service will be Wednesday at 1 p.m. at Finley Sunset-Hills Mortuary.
He had been in frail health since surgery last October; but last week he had completed a new biography, "Jesus -- the Man," and boxed the manuscript for mailing to a publisher.
He wrote 18 books and numerous articles that appeared in magazines for women, children and sportsman.
Among his books were "Long Way to Frisco," "Hannibal's Elephants," and "Alexander's Horses." His love of Oregon was mirrored in "Marooned at Crater Lake," which he dedicated to his children, John and Elizabeth, "two little Oregonians."
Powers was born on a cattle ranch near Delana, Ark. He spent his early years in Oklahoma and Texas, then came to the West Coast. He was a Phi-Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Oregon in 1910.
He worked in education most of his life. He was a school superintendent in several Oregon cities, including Florence and Oakland.
During World War I, he was assistant director of the American Red Cross, stationed in Seattle. It was then that he married his first wife, the late Harriet Elizabeth Morsman.
After the war he returned to the University of Oregon, where he was a professor of journalism. He became dean of the State System of Higher Education Extension System, now the Division of Continuing Education, and in that capacity he moved to Portland in 1942. When he retired in 1961, he was dean of creative writing and publishing.
For many years he taught a popular evening writing class at the Lincoln High School, now Lincoln Hall at Portland State University. Hundreds of Northwest journalists and other writers were veterans of his classes.
In the 1930s he became a friend of a sister of the late Frederick Homer Balch, the first noted Northwest writer in the Oregon territory. Balch was author of the novel "Bridge of the Gods," a legend of the destroyed stone bridge that Indians said once spanned the Columbia River at Cascade Locks.
Balch, a missionary and friend to the Indians, continued to write, but in a fit of depression burned all his writings. His sister, however, hid a copy of Balch's second novel, "Genevieve." Powers and Peter Binford, the Portland publisher, ensured its publication.
Powers married Molly Douglas Averill in 1961. In addition to her, he is survived by a son, Dr. John A. Powers of Charlotte, N.C.; a daughter, Elizabeth Barash of Van Nuys, Calif.; a stepdaughter, M'Lou Growden of Portland; two stepsons, Leas Averill of Portland and James D. Averill of Lake Oswego; a brother, Earl Powers; and eight grandchildren. He will be buried in the small Balch family cemetery at Lyle, Wash., as he requested long ago, with the following epitaph:
"I, a stranger, choose to lie among you amidst God's three symbols of eternity, Mount Adams, Mount Hood and the great river Columbia which flows between."

The Oregonian, Portland, OR., July 27, 1983, page B8

POWERS -- Alfred of Portland, husband of Mrs. Molly D., father of Dr. John A., Mrs. Elizabeth P. Braahs; step father of James D. & Leasf Averill, Mrs. M'Lou A. Growden; brother of Earl Powers; 8 grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren; nieces & nephews. Memorial services at Lewis & Clark College Chapel 3 p.m. Wednesday. Friends invited. Private interment Lyle, Wa. FINLEY-SUNSET HILLS, Directors.

The Goldendale Sentinel, Goldendale, WA., August 4, 1983, page 7

POWERS

Alfred Powers, 96, passed away at his Portland home July 24. he was a teacher, author and historian of the Pacific Northwest.
While never a local resident, he had strong sties to Klickitat County during the period of the 1950s, visiting regularly here.
He was born in Arkansas, spent his early years in Oklahoma and Texas, then came to the west coast where he was a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Oregon in 1910. He worked in educational journalism and personal writing most of his life, and was the author of 18 books and many articles.
Mr. Powers is survived by his wife Milly; by a son, Dr. John Powers of Charlotte, N.C.; by a daughter, Elizabeth Barash of VanNuys, Calif.; by a brother, Earl Powers of Portland; by two stepsons, Les Averill of Portland and James Averill of Lake Oswego; by a step-daughter, M'Lou Growden of Portland; and by eight grandchildren.
Memorial services were held at Lewis and Clark College chapel July 28. Burial, at his request, followed at a private cemetery in Lyle, where he will be remembered with the following epitaph;
"I, a stranger, choose to lie among you amidst God's three symbols of eternity, Mount Adams, Mount Hood and the great river Columbia which flows between."