December 13, 2007

OBITUARIES

Neva Marie Powell

Neva Marie (Stickney) Powell, of Valley Cottage, N.Y., died on Dec. 5, with family and friends by her side. Neva was born on Nov. 19, 1922, in Cincinnati. As an undergraduate student at Miami University in Oxford, Neva worked as a cartographer, mapping Antarctica from pictures taken by Admiral Richard Byrd’s exploration team.

After World War II, Neva married her high school sweetheart, Eugene Powell, and together they moved to Manhattan, then relocated to Valley Cottage. Neva loved her career as an art teacher, teaching at BOCES, Camp Jawonio (a school and camp for severely handicapped children), and various schools from Tompkins Cove to Palisades. For 25 years, Neva taught art to children from Rockland County and beyond, at the Rockland Foundation for the Arts. After retiring from teaching in the 1990s, Neva wrote a book (illustrated by her husband, Eugene Powell), The Long Crossing, for which she received a lifetime achievement award from the Rockland County Executive Arts Award. She was writing a second book telling the stories of World War II prisoners of war.

Neva was a tireless foe of civil defense and nuclear proliferation and an advocate for civil rights and peace on earth. She was a service officer for the WWII ex-POW organization, developed a discussion and support group for wives of POWs and educated wives of ex-prisoners of war about health issues of the veterans and their wives, including the impact of post traumatic stress disorder. She also assisted wives and widows in completing the forms necessary for widows’ benefits.

Neva followed her beloved husband in death just 25 days after he died on Nov. 10. They were married for 61 years.

She is survived by her children, Gene (Gino) Powell, Christy Powell, and Abby Powell; and grandchildren, Jesse Welton, Caleb Welton, and Hannah Xiaoyao Powell.

Neva will be much missed by family and friends alike. Her gifts, intellectual, artistic and ethical, were endless. Neva was a wonderful friend to many. She was an example of true values, and a champion of social causes, held and hard won with action. Neva lives on in our hearts and memories. A celebration of Neva’s life and Eugene Powell’s life will be held this coming spring.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent in her name to the Fellowship of Reconciliation, 521 N. Broadway, Nyack, NY 10960 or United Hospice of Rockland, 11 Stokum Lane, New City, NY 10956.

Naomi “Snookie” Furay

Naomi “Snookie” Furay died on Dec. 4, 2007. She was 94.

She was born in Yellow Springs to Charles and Bertha Ragar Coffman on March 22, 1913. She attended the Yellow Springs schools and graduated in 1931 from Bryan High School in one of the first graduating classes.

Snookie was married in 1935 to Paul Furay. Together they purchased the Finley Drug Store on Xenia Avenue in 1946 and renamed it Furay’s Drug Store. They sold that store in 1955 and then operated Furay’s Gift Shop. After Paul’s death in August 1957, she continued to operate the gift shop alone until her retirement. Snookie was a member of Zonta, ABWA Yellow Springs Methodist Church and Emery Chapel in Springfield.

Her passion after her retirement was golf, which she played until her early 80s. At one time she was Springfield’s oldest golfer.

She is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Judith and Tony Hugli of San Diego, Calif.; a son and daughter-in-law, Richard and Nancy Furay of Boulder, Colo.; six grandchildren; Kevin Hugli, Heidi Hugli, Timmie Aragon, Katie Rodriguez, Polly Furay and Jesse Lynch and eight great-grandchildren.

A celebration of Naomi’s life will be held at Jackson Lytle Williams Funeral Home, 2425 North Limestone Street, Springfield at 1 p.m., Friday, Dec. 14. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Burial will follow in the Glen Forest Cemetery, Yellow Springs. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the Calvery Chapel Broomfield, P.O. Box 1940, Broomfield, CO 80038 c/o the Healing Waters Project, or to the giver’s charity of choice.