Joye Powell, 86, passed from this life into the next on Tuesday, May 12, 2009 with her family at her side at Careage of Whidbey. She was born February 19, 1923, in Morris, Minn., to Paul and Viola Benoit.

Joye moved to Long Beach, Calif., in 1937 and in 1938, she met and married Douglas Powell. The traveled with the U.S. Navy to Bremerton, Wash., Guam, Japan and Boston, Mass., settling in Concord, Calif. in 1956.

Joye was a member of the Methodist Church in Concord, was a longtime member of the Elks Emblem Club and the Oak Harbor Senior Center. She loved to do arts and crafts, sewing, gardening, cooking and loved to go camping. She was most fond of family and friends.

Surviving Joye is her husband of over 70 years, Douglas Powell of Oak Harbor, son Douglas Powell, Jr., daughter Susan Souza with husband Don of Oak Harbor and grandsons Jeff and Jeremy Souza, granddaughter Joy Ann (Phil) Zabst. She also leaves great-grandchildren Steven, Cody, Darrin, Kristin and Emily, along with sisters Mary Presutti and Shirley Moyers and numerous nephews and nieces.

The family is planning an open house at the Souza residence: 485 Hazelwood Dr. in Oak Harbor on Sunday, May 24, 2009 from 2 to 5 p.m. to celebrate Joye’s life. Family and friends are encouraged to join them.

The family suggests donations to the Parkinson Foundation. Arrangements were entrusted to Burley Funeral Chapel, where family and friends may go online at www.burleyfuneralchapel.com to sign a guest book for Joye and leave memories for the family.