Marie Bernice Stokes Powell, 81, of Rector died Friday, Oct. 8, 2004, at Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould.

Mrs. Powell was born April 19, 1923, in Clay County to the late James Monroe Stokes and Letha Frances (Lamb) Stokes.

She worked for years at Smith's Department Store in Kennett, Mo., and was a member of the Rector Extension Homemakers Club and the Rector First United Methodist Church, where she participated in the United Methodist Women and was a member of the Trim Tab Class.

She also was preceded in death by her husband, Frank Henry Powell Jr.; four brothers, Orville "Dar" Stokes, Van Stokes, J.C. Stokes and Glen Stokes, and one sister, Ruth Rust.

She is survived by one daughter, Marcia Dawn Powell of Bowling Green, Mo.; one brother, Joe Stokes of Sterling Height, Mich., and a host of other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were at 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 11, at Irby Funeral Home Chapel in Rector with Rev. Larry Martineau officiating. Burial was in Woodland Heights Cemetery in Rector with Irby Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Pallbearers were Dwight Vangilder, Tony Wallace, Steven Romine, David Romine, Paul Schwager and Jeff Powell.