Lera Kate Hutcherson Powell, 84, of Memphis, Texas, passed away Wednesday, July 1, 2026.
Services took place at 10 a.m. Monday, July 6, 2026, at the First Methodist Church in Memphis with Dr. Stan Cosby and Rev. Daniel Downey officiating. Burial followed in Fairview Cemetery in Memphis. The family received friends for viewing/visitation from 3-5 p.m. Sunday, July 5 at the funeral home. Arrangements were under the care of Robertson Funeral Directors of Memphis.
Lera Kate Hutcherson Powell was born on Dec. 5, 1941, in Memphis to Edwin and Mildred (Beckum) Hutcherson, and she passed away on July 1, 2026.
She graduated from Memphis High School, then graduated from West Texas State University in 1963 with a B.B.A., and in 1968, with a Masters Education Degree. While in college, she loved being in the Zeta Tau Alpha social sorority and the honorary society for Business Education Majors, Pi Omega Pi.
She married Ray Don Powell on Aug. 25, 1962. To this union, three children were born, Millini Skuba, Robert Powell and Stephani Cramer. They were blessed with four grandchildren, Nicholas Belcher, Amanda Belcher, Stephen Belcher and Caleb Skuba, and three great-grandchildren, Elijah, Amos and Monica Belcher.
An avid genealogist, Lera Kate belonged to the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, the United Daughters of the Confederacy, the 17th Century Colonial Dames, the National Society of the Sons and Daughters of the Pilgrims and the Descendants of Former Texas Rangers. She also belonged to the Methodist Church, the Fairview Cemetery Association and the Hall County Historical Commission.
Lera Kate loved to take lessons and became a masterful genealogist. She dabbled in a lot of hobbies, including tennis, knitting, crocheting, crewel embroidery, sewing and appliques, CPR, personalizing with wet paint, silk flower arranging, spinning on her own spinning wheel, calligraphy, oil painting, ceramics, china painting, piano lessons, jazzercise, woodworking, refinishing antiques, both contract and duplicate bridge, Mah Jong, swimming, Bible classes, tole painting and watercolor painting.
However, Lera Kate’s favorite hobby turned out to be serving as an authentic Civil War re-enactor, going to battle re-enactments all across the South with her lady traveling friends. In her authentic Civil War attire, she marched in the New Year’s Parade in Dallas, rode in a visà- vis carriage in the Fort Worth Fat Stock Show Parade, has been on television in Nashville, Tenn. and has been to Southern Balls in Tennessee and Villa Rica, Ga. She loved it!
Lera Kate also traveled with her husband, Ray, after he won many trips to various places in the U.S., Mexico, Costa Rica, the Baja Mexican Peninsula, Italy and South Africa. She was able to purchase a miniature Pieta at the Vatican gift shop and have it blessed by the Pope. South Africa was truly a highlight! She was able to take a tour around the Cape of Good Hope and see many rusted ship hulls that had crashed in the ocean. The Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet there, one flowing north and south while the other flows east and west. The turbulence and undertow make it impossible for ships to come to shore there. So, while the ships’ hulls sit rusting in the ocean, hundreds of seals sit on the shore clapping and clapping some more.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her only brother, Bob Hutcherson. She is survived by her husband, Ray; daughter Millini Skuba (Gary); son Robert Powell (Victoria); and daughter Stephani Cramer (Chris). Her four grandchildren also survive her, Nicholas Belcher (Lauren), Amanda Belcher, Stephen Belcher and Caleb Skuba. Also adding to the family are three great-grandchildren, Elijah, Amos and Monica Belcher.
Memorials may be made to the Methodist Church or Memphis Fairview Cemetery Association. A grateful acknowledgement is included for the Childress Regional Hospital Hospice Organization.
Sign the online guest book at robertsonfuneral.com.
