Diann Donner Powell

Diann Donner Powell

Diann Donner Powell of Knoxville, Tenn., devoted wife, loving mother, sister and friend, passed away late Saturday evening, July 1, 2017. Diann was born at home in Manila, Ark., to parents Leo J. and Emma Donner on Jan. 10, 1944. At age 9 she was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes overcoming all odds and surviving with it 64 years. She graduated from Manila High School in 1962 then attended Arkansas State University. She transferred to the University of Chattanooga where she met her beloved husband Stephen A. Powell of 52 years marrying on Sept. 25, 1965. She supported her husband’s military service in the United States Navy during the Vietnam conflict as he served on the U.S.S. Forrestal then settling in West Knoxville in August 1978.

Diann had tremendous love for her family, was a devoted mother to her three children volunteering in their schools, in her neighborhood association, and was a member of St. John Neumann Catholic parish. She was motivated to create opportunities for her children to participate in extracurricular activities. She was an extremely creative and skilled seamstress with an eye for design, played the saxophone and piano, an incredible baker and had a love for decorating with flowers. Interpersonally she had a gift for communicating and making people feel accepted. She utilized her friendly smile and love for people working in retail sales at JC Penny’s, Sears, and Dillard’s at Westtown Mall. She has never met a stranger that didn’t end up her friend.

Diann was preceded in death by her parents mentioned above. She is survived by her husband, Stephen A. Powell; son, Keith (Abby) Powell of Mt. Pleasant, S.C.; daughter, Stephanie D. Powell of Falls Church, Vir.; Chris (Tammy) Powell of Cookeville, Tenn.; grandchildren, Mylee and Addilyn Powell, stepsons, Jared Bilbrey and Cody Sullivan; sisters, Nadia Lamb of Oak Ridge, Tenn., and Barbara Capehart of Memphis, Tenn.; brother, Gerald (Debra) Donner of Manila; brother-in-law, Phillip (Elaine) Powell of Knoxville, Tenn.; sister-in-law, Carolyn (Jerry) Hendrix of Cleveland, Tenn.; several nieces and nephews.

A mass will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday July 8, at St. John Neumann Catholic Church in Farragut, Tenn., Father Michael Maples, celebrant. Luncheon reception will follow at the Click Funeral Home Farragut-Milestones Event Center, located at 11909 Kingston Pike, Farragut, Tenn. 37934.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation to help find a cure to end Type 1 diabetes. Checks can be mailed directly to JDRF, East TN Chapter #4818, 355 Trane Drive Knoxville, Tenn. 37919, or, online at www.jdrf.org and select TN- East Tennessee chapter.

Click Funeral Home Farragut Chapel 11915 is serving the Powell family. www.clickfh.com