Donna Powers
Donna M. Powers, age 80, of Grand Bay, Alabama, passed away on Sunday, November 2, 2025, at Danbury Senior Living in Mount Vernon.
She was born on March 23, 1945, to the late Kinson L. and Dorothy M. (O’Brien) Martin.
Donna was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts just before the end of World War II to Kinson and Dorothy Martin. Her parents struck up a romance at a USO dance in Boston then were quickly married before Kinson was shipped off to war with the US Navy. Her early years were spent playing with friends in the Massachusetts snow during winter and exploring her uncle’s light house in the summer. In the later part of her youth Donna moved to the Mississippi Gulf Coast with her family, a place she would forever refer to as her home.
In the 70’s Donna met the love of her life, Butch Powers, and together they blended their families. Butch coached the kids in sports while Donna was the team mother and statistician. Throughout her life she balanced the difficult role of motherhood and working full-time as a project scheduler for a construction company and box factory.
In the later part of her years Donna loved to teach line dancing to seniors and taking care of her dogs. In memory care the staff would braid her hair as she would sit in her Alabama Tide sweatshirt sipping a warm Coca-Cola making dry sarcastic comments that would make them laugh. She passed away peacefully in the night, a true Southern woman.
Donna is survived by her sons, Joe (Heidi) Bonvillain, Ed (Andrea) Bonvillain, Ted Powers; daughters, Kelley (Chris) Cabrin and Nonna (Steve) Lovelace; a brother, Dana (Debbie) Martin; 17 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Butch Powers and a brother, Donald Martin.
The family plans on having a private graveside memorial service in Pascagoula, MS.
The Snyder Funeral Home – Lasater Chapel is assisting the family with arrangements.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to Knox County Ohio Dog Shelter.
To express a condolence to the family, please visit www.snyderfuneralhomes.com