Obituaries / LJWorld.com

Obituaries

Areta Dorothy Alford Powell Meyer, 91, passed away in her sleep on Thursday, March 7, 2013, at Brandon Woods Memory Care Center. She was born on March 24, 1922, the youngest daughter of Fred S. (Pop) Alford and Dorothy (Mom) Hopewell Alford and raised on a farm north of Lawrence. She graduated from Lawrence's Liberty Memorial High School in 1938 and soon after from the Lawrence Business College. She loved to dance and helped organize local square-dance clubs for adults and 4-H groups. She enjoyed horseback riding and especially cared for her horse Peter Pan. She was married to Wayne D. Powell from 1941 to 1958 and bore two children, Rex R. Powell (wife Marie-Alice L'Heureux) and Taunya S. Reusch (husband John Reusch). Areta married and later divorced Carroll Meyer and worked in the finance department at Kansas Memorial Student Union from 1964-1984. In more recent years, she loved tending her yard, cultivating flowers, and nurturing her vegetable garden. She also helped to organize dances at the Lawrence Senior Center. She was predeceased by her four siblings, Florence, Donald, Eugene, and Teddy, and her grandson Robby Reusch. She is survived by James (Jim) B. Simpson, her long time dance partner and beloved companion, her two children and their father, seven grandchildren and nine great-grand children. A celebration of her long and happy life in the form of a reunion of family and friends is planned for May 11 at the Unitarian Fellowship Hall, 1263 N 1100 Rd., Lawrence, Kansas.