Vincil Dean Powell

Vincil Dean Powell passed away peacefully on Sunday, 10 Jan 2021, at St. Luke's Meridian Medical Center in Meridian, Idaho. He was born 24 Jan 1934 near Cameron, Clay County, Missouri to Lillie Harter Powell and Vincil E Powell. His childhood was spent on a farm in Daviess County with his parents and his sister, Betty Powell. He and his sister were very close – a special bond that continued throughout his lifetime. His family moved to Mesa, Arizona, in about 1948, where he graduated from Mesa High School, in 1952. He served four years in the U.S. Navy, during the Korean War, serving aboard the USS Quincy, and the USS Mansfield, doing two tours of duty in the Pacific. He served as an electronic technician, responsible for radio communications and radar. He visited several ports of call – including, Hong Kong, the Philippines, and Japan. During his time in the Navy he was introduced to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and was converted and baptized.

He was stationed out of Long Beach, California, where he met and married Barbara Rowe on 8 June 1956 in the Latter-day Saint Los Angeles Temple. Their union produced two children – Deena and Shawn. After leaving the navy, Dean and Barbara moved to Arizona to attend Arizona State University, where Dean earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with an initial intention to teach, but his focus shifted over time towards biology and entomology studies. During his college years, he worked for the United States Forest Service. He spent many hours alone and with his children in the desert and mountainous areas of central Arizona, with which he became expertly acquainted.

Dean married Lydia Zeller on 19 Feb 1967. They had no children together, but he later adopted her youngest daughter, Lisa. Dean moved his family to Kirkland, Washington in 1970. He worked for a few years at the Suzzallo library on the campus of the University of Washington, and eventually began working at the University of Washington Arboretum. He worked there as a head gardener for 30 years, specializing in the identification and treatment of trees diseases with herbicides and pesticides. He was passionate about the Northwest and its flora and fauna. He loved being near the sea – a love that continued to develop, as a result of the years he spent in the navy. Dean was also an avid reader and began an extensive collection of books during this time.

On 2 April 1977, Dean married Virginia Rushton. Although this marriage was brief, Dean and Ginny were able to move Dean’s aging parents to Washington State. They also began collecting antique furniture together – this passion would stay with Dean for the rest of his life.

On 3 July 1981, Dean married his 4th wife, Anne Egan - a young grounds crew worker who had been hired at the Arboretum. Dean adopted Anne’s daughter, Shanna, shortly after their marriage. They lived in Seattle for 13 years, ultimately buying a home there. During these years, Dean worked incredibly long hours – working at an additional two, sometimes three part-time jobs besides his day job at the U of W Arboretum. His will power and his determination were driving forces in his life.

Dean loved The Lord. He had a testimony of the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He had an unwavering testimony of the prophet Joseph Smith, and the Book of Mormon. He was instrumental in helping his sister, his parents, and three of his wives to be converted to the gospel and be baptized. He loved family history and treasured family photographs. As his children married, Dean’s love for his ancestors expanded to include his posterity. He delighted in the grandchildren & great-grandchildren that joined the family. He had a very mischievous sense of humor and enjoyed teasing the little ones. They called him ‘Papa’.

In 1999 Dean was able to do some traveling. He had an extended visit to Russia – seeing much of the town of Pskov, and the sights of Moscow and Saint Petersburg. In May 2000, he traveled to Bulgaria, to meet his 5th wife, Tatyana Boycheva. He brought her to the United States, where they were married 18 Nov 2000. This was his final marriage, which ended in May 2006.

In 2009, Dean’s children moved him from his Seattle home to Boise, Idaho. With deteriorating health, and limited mobility, he needed to be closer to family. He began going by his first name, ‘Vincil’ at this time. He spent his remaining years in quiet retirement with his beloved antiques and books, and enjoying the beauties of nature, which he could see from his patio. He was able to do this largely with the support and friendship of his home caregiver, Kim Baguley. In Dec 2020, Vincil fell and broke the femur in his right leg, requiring surgery. During his stay at a rehab facility, his condition began to deteriorate, and he contracted Covid-19 pneumonia, requiring a return to the hospital for his remaining days.

He is survived by his daughter, Deena Powell (Doug) Millett, of Columbia, South Carolina; his son, Vincil Shawn (Nancy) Powell, of Meridian, Idaho; his two adopted daughters, Lisa Powell (Mark) Cunningham, of Gold Canyon, Arizona and Shanna Powell, of Madison, Wisconsin; his sister, Betty Powell Stuart, of Highland, California; 17 grandchildren, and 16 great-grandchildren; 1 niece and 3 nephews. We rejoice that Vincil Dean is now reunited with his loved ones and friends who have passed on before him. We love you, Papa!