Gary Leon Powless, 79, of Centralia passed away Tuesday, December 10, 2024, at SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital in Mt. Vernon.
He was born on February 28, 1945, the son of Robert “Leon” and Annabelle (Perry) Powless in Salem. He married Joan Goewert on October 31, 1964, and they divorced. He married Loretta “Cookie” Adams on April 19, 1980, and she preceded him in death on May 25, 2000. He married Marilyn Erlinger in 2002 in Florida and she survives him in Centralia.
Along with his wife, Marilyn Powless, Gary is survived by his beloved family, his children, Kenneth Powless and Kym Heitkamp of Germantown, Caroline and David Deutsch of Breese, Tiffany Powless and “Duck” Johnson of St. Louis, Landon Powless of Centralia, Tasha Jackson and Lindsey Townsend of Florida, and Lonnie and Rachel Jackson of Salem; grandchildren, David and Mackenzie, Colten, Wyett, and Billie; great-grandchildren, Charles, and Adaline; his brothers, David Powless of Rochester, and Tom and Indy Tate of Salem; his sister, Linda Nunnery of Centralia; and many nieces, nephews, extended family members and friends.
Along with his 2nd wife, Cookie Powless, Gary was preceded in death by his parents; and his sister, LaDena Arnold.
Gary was born and raised in Salem and was a proud graduate of Salem High School. As an adult, he called Breese home for 15 years, before moving to Centralia. He was a loyal employee of Swan in Centralia, where he kept things running smoothly as a forklift operator for 35 years. Gary had amazing musical talent, playing drums at the age of 14, and was a musician with many local bands. Gary was an avid Green Bay Packers fan, who looked forward to football season every year. He was a wonderful, caring provider for his family, never met a stranger, always had a smile and welcome handshake for everyone, and Gary will be deeply missed by all.
A celebration of life service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 15, 2024, at the Irvin Macz Funeral Home in Centralia. Interment will follow at Elmwood Cemetery. Friends and relatives are welcome to a visitation time from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 14, 2024, and one hour prior to the service on Sunday at the funeral home in Centralia. Memorials may be made in Gary’s honor to Landon’s Educational Fund. Online condolences and memories of Gary may be shared with his family by visiting maczfuneralhomes.com and/or on the funeral home’s Facebook page.
