Funeral services for Dayton Eugene Powell, 81 of Marshall will be held at 10 a.m., Thursday, June 19, 2014 in the chapel of Downs Funeral Home with Rev. Carlton Burris officiating. Interment will follow in Woodlawn Cemetery in Woodlawn, Texas. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m., Wednesday, June 18, 2014 at the funeral home. Dayton Eugene Powell was born December 22, 1932 in the Berea community of Marion County. He passed from this life on June 16, 2014 at his home. He was the 4th child born to Roy Dayton and Lola Mae Poplin Powell. He was reared in the Berea community in Marion County and attended school at the Jefferson Academy School located there. Mr. Powell joined the Navy in 1951. He served as a petty officer on the USS Henry W. Tucker, DD875, forming friendships that lasted the rest of his life. One of the highlights of his later years was being reunited with many of his shipmates and enjoying many hours of fellowship with them. From 1957 - 1959 he worked in India and Pakistan for Southeastern Drilling Company. Many stories were originated there. In 1959 he returned to Marion County, Texas where he soon met a young lady named Lavelle Russell. They were wed on June 11, 1959. They celebrated 55 years of marriage last Wednesday. Mr. Powell worked in the oil field for several years and spent many years in the maintenance field. He retired as Maintenance Manager for the Marshall ISD. He was a long time dedicated member of Immanuel Baptist Church. Mr. Powell is survived by his wife of 55 years, Lavelle. He is also survived by one daughter, Sonia Powell Assaf and her husband George of Mineola, TX and one son, Travis Powell of Marshall, TX. He leaves 6 grandchildren, William Jamil Assaf of Dallas, TX, Lena Georgette Assaf of Tampa, FL, Micah Dayton Powell and wife Nicole of Ft. Worth, TX, Laura Nicole Assaf of Nashville, TN, Mitchell George Assaf of College Station, TX and Dylan Bryant Powell of Bossier City, LA. He is also survived by 2 sisters, Louise Powell Warren of Jefferson, TX and Beth Powell Elliot and her husband Robert Elliot of the Berea community. Also surviving him are a sister-in-law, Ladelle Kay of Longview, TX and a brother-in-law, Sonny McKnight of Jefferson, TX. Mr. Powell was preceded in death by his parents, 3 sisters and 2 brothers. Pallbearers will be his grandsons, Jamil Assaf, Micah Powell, Mitchell Assaf, and Dylan Powell. They will be joined by four dear friends of many years, Jim Williams. Buddy Hancock, Mitchell Myers and Gerald Jackson. Honorary pallbearers will be Sonny McKnight, Jimmie Ford and the BYKOTA Sunday School class of Immanuel Baptist Church, and all his grandchildren. A special note of appreciation goes to his shipmates on USS Henry W. Tucker. Special thanks also go to his dedicated doctors, Dr. Koya and Dr. Leatherman. Our dad's special hobby for many years was hand crafting walking canes. His request was for friends to bring their special sticks to his visitation so they could talk about them and share their memories. If you would like to, we invite you to bring it with you.