Kathryn Heep Powers, 90, of Austin was welcomed into the loving arms of her savior on Thursday, March 29, 2012. She was a lifelong resident of Texas, born in Buda on May 2, 1921 to Boone and Zoe Heep. Her parents ranched and farmed the land where Kathryn learned an appreciation for hard work and developed a deep love for the Hill Country.
She graduated from Buda High School where she was valedictorian of her class, and attended the University of Texas at Austin where she met her husband Neal Powers Jr. She maintained a lifelong passion for University of Texas sports. Neal practiced law in Houston where they raised their family. He preceded her in death in 2005.
She is survived by her daughters Kathy Buffington of Austin and Penny Pattee of Temple. Her son, Neal Powers, III, of Corpus Christi, passed away in 2005. She was an avid gardener who could identify any plant or flower by name, a skill she passed on to her children and grandchildren who continue to endeavor to grow their own gardens with the patience and tenderness she brought to her own. Her home was always filled with nature, whether it was her plants or beautiful painted landscapes that she collected over the years, as she was a strong supporter of local Texas artists. In her earlier years Kathryn and Neal loved to travel. She recently shared the story of how they went on their first cruise only after winning the trip in a local raffle. The trip was such a cherished time together that they continued to cruise. She is survived by her sister Dorothy Larson of Pacific Palisades, Calif., Kathy’s children Blake and Kimberly of Austin, and Penny’s children Katie, Courtney and Morgan, along with five great-grandchildren.
A service to celebrate her life will be held on April 13, 2012 at Live Oak Cemetery in Manchaca.
