Laura Elaine Bonner Powell entered this world on June 8, 1951 and moved to heaven May 19, 2015. Her life began in the small East Texas town of Leggett, and she grew up in numerous East Texas towns as the child of the late Reverend Hubert O. Bonner and Louzell Maines Bonner.
Elaine finished her high school career and graduated in May 1969 from Sabine High School then attended Lon Morris Jr. College in Jacksonville, Texas where she met her husband-to-be, Elias Davis Powell III. While they were married, they had two daughters, Elisa Diane Powell Curtis and Melanie Dawn Powell Phillips.
Ms. Powell moved her daughters to Denton in 1984, and spent the next few years working in clerical/secretarial positions before going to school to earn her R.N. degree at Collin County Community College. She spent most of her career working at hospitals in Denton. In the last few years, Elaine worked as a nurse in the hospice services. Ms. Powell was employed as a nurse at Denton County MHMR at the time of her death.
An active member of Amazing Love Ministries of Denton, Elaine spent her life doing what she loved, singing in praise of her Lord and Savior, Jesus. Between raising two daughters, working to support them, and her church work, Elaine added a writing career to her accomplishments. Her first novel was published in 1999. She published three novels as Elaine Bonner and four additional novels as half of the writing team of Kasandra Elaine. In addition to writing novels, Ms. Powell wrote a one-woman drama, "He Was My Son, Too," which she performed in churches and for women's groups in several states, including Texas, Wyoming, and North Carolina.
In her spare time, Elaine loved to travel in the mountains where she drew inspiration for her writing. She loved to share her favorite spot at Jenny Lake in the Grand Teton National Park with her family and friends.
Her parents, Hubert O. Bonner and Louzell Bonner along with her daughter, Elisa, a brother Terry Bonner, and a sister-in-law, Myra Bonner, preceded Ms. Powell in death. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Melanie and Michael Phillips of Justin, Texas and her three grandchildren, Abigail Phillips, Allan Phillips, and Austin Phillips also of Justin. Elaine is also survived by her sister and brother-in-law, Martha and Kenneth Dunn, of Sanger, Texas, her brother Curtis Bonner of Hudson, Texas, and her brother and sister-in-law, "Bud" and Vernell Bonner of Hudson, Texas as well as a large number of nieces, nephews, and friends.
Visitation for Laura Elaine Bonner Powell is set for Friday, May 22 from 6 – 8 p.m. at Mulkey-Mason, Jack Schmitz and Son Funeral Home 705 N. Locust Denton, Texas 76201. Funeral services will be Saturday, May 23 at 2 p.m. at Mulkey-Mason, Jack Schmitz and Son Funeral Home Chapel. Interment is scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday, May 25, at Walton Cemetery off of Highway 79 outside of Carthage, Texas.