Kern-San Joaquin County CA Archives Obituaries.....[Scott] Powers, Margaret Jane October 16, 2005 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ca/cafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: K T bluewolf@onemain.com October 19, 2005, 10:50 pm The Bakersfield Californian Powers, Margaret Jane 1918 - 2005 Margaret Jane Powers Dec. 19, 1918 - Oct. 16, 2005 Services: Fri., Oct. 21, 3:00 p.m. Graveside services will be held Friday, October 21, 2005, 3:00 p.m., at West Side District Cemetery, in Taft, California for Margaret Powers, 86. Margaret was born on December 19, 1918 to George and Nevada Scott in Manteca, California. In 1922, Margarets family left the orchard business and moved to Reward near McKittrick, California where her father worked for the Tidewater Associated Oil Company. Margaret and her two brothers, Tharen and Stanley, attended Olig Elementary/Grammar School in the foothills of the Temblor Range. Margaret graduated from Taft Union High School and from Taft College before marrying Hugh Powers of McKittrick in December 1937. The couple settled in Taft. Hugh worked for Belridge Oil Company and also owned Hueys Speed Shop and later Powers Speed Shop with Margaret as the bookkeeper. Margaret shared Hughs love for all types of racing from midgets to motorcycles. They were members of the Taft Motorcycle Club where Margaret took her turns as secretary or treasurer. When a freak snowstorm hit on the day of the Clubs Hill Climb/Scrambler meet outside Maricopa, neither Margaret nor the other ladies, Naomi Kerr, Harriet Krugh, JoAnn Bledsoe, Delores Carson, or Cleo Amadisto complained of the bitter cold and kept track of their riders and their scores. In 1957, the couple was returning from motorcycle races in San Jose, when a car hit their motorcycle from behind. Hugh escaped with minor injuries, but Margaret was seriously injured suffering a double compound leg fracture. Her love of motorcycle riding was dimmed although she and Hugh attended the Sturgis, South Dakota meet several times by car. In 1963, the family, with Margaret as the secretary/treasurer, started racing a gas dragster with partner, Don Shields from Maricopa. The Shields-Powers team moved up to junior fuel before retiring in the early 1970s. Margaret hid her fear for the safety of the driver, son, Vernon, and was an enthusiastic fan. After drag racing, Hugh and Margaret entered the wild world of slot car racing always trying to find a way to soup up their cars. Margaret was a homemaker until 1967 when, at the encouragement of friend, Veda Lundstrom, went to work for Continental Telephone in Taft. She made many friends and thoroughly enjoyed her work before retiring in 1983. In her 16 years at Con/Tel, Margaret missed only one day of work. Following Hughs death, Margaret moved to Bakersfield in 1984. During the following years, she enjoyed numerous trips to Las Vegas with family and best friend, Fern Miller, a trip to Alaska with family and Fern, and two trips to Hawaii with her beloved brother, Stan and his family. Margaret loved to knit and made many baby afghans for family and friends. She was also an avid sports fan, especially when it came to football. Margaret loved dogs and cats and will now be re-united with her cat, Cricket. Margaret was not one to boast, but she was proud of her children and very proud of her granddaughters, Erin, a teacher and Courtney, an attorney. Beloved husband of 46 years, Hugh; and both brothers, Tharen and Stanley, preceded Margaret in death. She is survived by son and daughter-in-law, Vernon and Kay Powers of Taft; daughter, Susan Durkan of Bakersfield; granddaughters, Erin Powers of Santa Monica and Courtney Powers of Pasadena; beloved sister-in-law, Mariann Scott of San Diego and nine nieces and nephews. Special thanks to Fern and Tom Miller, who never forgot Mom, to Frank and Pat Spallino, special neighbors, to Emerald Home and Care who provided Mom with a safe and loving home, and to Hoffman Hospice. Friends are invited to pay their respects on Thursday from 3:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and again on Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., at the Erickson & Brown Funeral Home. Pastor Jeff Harrington of the Evangelical Free Church will officiate at the services. Pallbearers will be David, Tom, Joe, Steve and Jim Scott, Keith McElmurry, Frank Machado, Tom Miller, Bob Bledsoe, Don Shields and Bob Foreman. Erickson & Brown Funeral Home Legacy.com Published in the Bakersfield Californian on 10/19/2005. Additional Comments: Volunteer submission - No relation to deceased. Obituaries http://www.legacy.com/bakersfield/LegacyHome.asp File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/kern/obits/s/scottpow444gob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/cafiles/ File size: 5.0 Kb