1940
Roma
2021
Roma Powis
December 6, 1940 — May 8, 2021
Roma R. Powis, age 80, formerly of Corvallis, Oregon, passed away Saturday, May 8, 2021, in Nashville, Tennessee.
Family, friends and others whose lives Roma touched are invited to gather for a memorial service May 29, 2021 at 12:00PM with visitation starting at 11:00AM at Spring Hill Memorial Funeral Home, 5239 Main Street, Spring Hill, Tennessee.
No one who met Roma forgot her fearless positivity and joy. Her strength was in knowing where every silver lining hid. She had an uncanny ability to be content with who she was, what she was, and where she was - and that contentment flowed into the unconditional acceptance she gave to those she loved. Roma was happiest when she was connecting with friends and family (especially with a good bourbon on the rocks in hand).
Roma was born in Corvallis, Oregon, on December 6, 1940, to Gwen and Chuck Rickabaugh. She loved to ride horses, was a graduate of South Eugene High School in 1957, and earned a Bachelor Degree in Special Education from the University of Oregon. She married Rick Cleveland in 1960 and had three children, Mark, Kurt, and Dana. In 1992 she married Ken Powis, who had three children, Nikki, Tina, and Kara.
Professionally, she was a problem-solver, creative communicator, and effective team leader. She started her career in Eugene school district, leading programs for at-risk youth and special education. Her life's work creating training and employment programs to help persons with disabilities gain confidence and independence has impacted hundreds - likely thousands - of families. Roma was the well-deserved recipient of the Meritorious Service National Award from President George Bush in 1990, State Teacher of the Year Award from Oregon Disabilities Commission in 1993, and a Citation for Outstanding Contribution from President Bill Clinton in 1995, to name a few.
Roma and Ken lived in Eugene until 1996 when she retired from the school district and moved to Depoe Bay, Oregon. Together, they operated Ocean View Realestate, Whale Cove Restaurant & Inn, participated in city counsel and Lions Club, designed several homes together and enjoyed coastal living. In 2003, they moved to the Nashville area where Roma continued her lifelong work at the University of Tennessee where she again served the disabled community in vocational training and employment opportunities.
Her memory will be cherished and kept alive by her husband Ken Powis; Sister Char Reed; Roma's three children Mark (Jenny) Cleveland, Kurt (Patti) Cleveland, and Dana (Robert) Eckstein, Amy Swift Crosby; Ken's three children Nikki Powis, Tina (David) Powis-Dow, and Kara (Kate) Powis; thirteen grandchildren Kristina Hurlburt, Daniel Hurlburt, James Hurlburt, Kira Cleveland, Savannah Cleveland, Madison Canfield, Blake Canfield, Piper Cleveland, Kayla Cleveland, Roman Eckstein, Amelia Cleveland, Kai Powis-Dow and Kenzi Powis; five great-grandchildren Sophie Hurlburt, Olivia Hurlburt, Jayce Cleveland, Liam Hurlburt, and Jude Hurlburt; one nephew Jason (Spring) Reed and one niece Susan Hipp.
The family would like to extend our gratitude to all the staff at Traditions Spring Hill and Alive Hospice, who cared deeply for her as she valiantly fought to stay present through the stages of dementia.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Roma's name to American Association of People with Disabilities (aapd.com) or Dementia Society of America (dementiasociety.org).
SPRING HILL MEMORIAL PARK, FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATION SERVICES. 931 486-0059 www.springhill-memorial.com
Family, friends and others whose lives Roma touched are invited to gather for a memorial service May 29, 2021 at 12:00PM with visitation starting at 11:00AM at Spring Hill Memorial Funeral Home, 5239 Main Street, Spring Hill, Tennessee.
No one who met Roma forgot her fearless positivity and joy. Her strength was in knowing where every silver lining hid. She had an uncanny ability to be content with who she was, what she was, and where she was - and that contentment flowed into the unconditional acceptance she gave to those she loved. Roma was happiest when she was connecting with friends and family (especially with a good bourbon on the rocks in hand).
Roma was born in Corvallis, Oregon, on December 6, 1940, to Gwen and Chuck Rickabaugh. She loved to ride horses, was a graduate of South Eugene High School in 1957, and earned a Bachelor Degree in Special Education from the University of Oregon. She married Rick Cleveland in 1960 and had three children, Mark, Kurt, and Dana. In 1992 she married Ken Powis, who had three children, Nikki, Tina, and Kara.
Professionally, she was a problem-solver, creative communicator, and effective team leader. She started her career in Eugene school district, leading programs for at-risk youth and special education. Her life's work creating training and employment programs to help persons with disabilities gain confidence and independence has impacted hundreds - likely thousands - of families. Roma was the well-deserved recipient of the Meritorious Service National Award from President George Bush in 1990, State Teacher of the Year Award from Oregon Disabilities Commission in 1993, and a Citation for Outstanding Contribution from President Bill Clinton in 1995, to name a few.
Roma and Ken lived in Eugene until 1996 when she retired from the school district and moved to Depoe Bay, Oregon. Together, they operated Ocean View Realestate, Whale Cove Restaurant & Inn, participated in city counsel and Lions Club, designed several homes together and enjoyed coastal living. In 2003, they moved to the Nashville area where Roma continued her lifelong work at the University of Tennessee where she again served the disabled community in vocational training and employment opportunities.
Her memory will be cherished and kept alive by her husband Ken Powis; Sister Char Reed; Roma's three children Mark (Jenny) Cleveland, Kurt (Patti) Cleveland, and Dana (Robert) Eckstein, Amy Swift Crosby; Ken's three children Nikki Powis, Tina (David) Powis-Dow, and Kara (Kate) Powis; thirteen grandchildren Kristina Hurlburt, Daniel Hurlburt, James Hurlburt, Kira Cleveland, Savannah Cleveland, Madison Canfield, Blake Canfield, Piper Cleveland, Kayla Cleveland, Roman Eckstein, Amelia Cleveland, Kai Powis-Dow and Kenzi Powis; five great-grandchildren Sophie Hurlburt, Olivia Hurlburt, Jayce Cleveland, Liam Hurlburt, and Jude Hurlburt; one nephew Jason (Spring) Reed and one niece Susan Hipp.
The family would like to extend our gratitude to all the staff at Traditions Spring Hill and Alive Hospice, who cared deeply for her as she valiantly fought to stay present through the stages of dementia.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Roma's name to American Association of People with Disabilities (aapd.com) or Dementia Society of America (dementiasociety.org).
SPRING HILL MEMORIAL PARK, FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATION SERVICES. 931 486-0059 www.springhill-memorial.com
Visitation Details
Saturday, May 29th, 2021 11:00am - 12:00pm, Spring Hill Memorial Funeral Home
Service Information
Saturday, May 29th, 2021 12:00pm, Spring Hill Memorial Funeral Home
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