Tommy Powell

Tommy Powell, 65, of Carlsbad, NM, passed away Sunday, July 2, 2023 at Carlsbad Medical Center.

Tommy was the youngest son of Walter Thomas Powell and Wanda Modene Sifford, both predeceased.

He grew up amongst the pine trees with his father in Cloudcroft and cherished these times. After graduated from Cloudcroft High School in 1976 he bounced around from Cloudcroft, Ruidoso, Alamogordo, and El Paso before finding himself in Carlsbad. It was in Carlsbad redirecting traffic for a crime scene that he met Leslie. She has pulled up with a horse trailer and had to turn around. Being a gentleman, he asked if he could help her back it up. “The day I need someone to back my trailer is the day I’ll park it!” was the response he was met with. He was absolutely smitten. After a long chase and finally getting her roped Tommy married Leslie October 31, 1981.They went on to build a beautiful life together and raise 4 children.

In 1998 he discovered he had a daughter he never knew about, April. He was so thrilled to meet her. Shortly after that he finally found “Little Tommy” and after a lifetime of searching for him they were reunited. 

Known for his time in the oilfield, Tommy loved to regal us with stories of his time with the Carlsbad Mounted Patrol and sheriff’s Reserves, concrete, and pumping. His favorite stories were the trucking stories. He could tell those all day and still would proudly point out concrete he had poured or the challenge it was to get the mixer in there.

Tommy’s favorite things were Leslie, telling jokes, guns, hoarding smarties, and keeping the Vienna sausage industry a float. He also had a knack for rewriting the words to songs and could’ve given Weird Al Yankovic or Ray Stevens a run for their money. A connoisseur of good pies, Tommy would tell anyone who would listen that Mary made the best key lime and lemon merengue, but Tammy’s pumpkin pie was to die for.

Tommy loved his children and was extremely proud of each of them. From teaching us all how to shoot, work on trucks, hunting with Casey, oilfield advice, home improvement tips, to curling Sarah’s hair he made each of us feel loved. Famously funny, kind, and late to everything, he passed several of these qualities on to his children.  

Tough as nails, he survived numerous serious health problems and accidents (until now, anyway). Beating the odds and defying medical science every step of the way, he had a tenacity and that could not be surpassed.

A shining example of a good person he gathered friends and “kids” and took care of us all. He always greeted everyone with a smile and a joke. Lifting them up and brighten spirits even when you didn’t know you needed them. Tommy Led a full life and would want us to remember him with laughter and stories.

Cremation has taken place – What’s a Grecian Urn? Oh, about 200 drachmas a week.

Tommy’s memorial service will be Monday July 10th at 2:00 PM at Denton-Wood Funeral Home.

Survivors are his wife, Leslie Powell; children: April McAbee and husband David, Thomas Powell and wife Kaycey, Tammy Powell, Casey Powell and wife Duv, Mary Elam and husband Jerry, and Sarah Powell;

Grandchildren: Zach, Christopher, Catelyn, Austin, Gabbi, Skylar, Allyson, Zoey, Evan, Emily, Taylor, Jasper, MaKaighlah, Ryker, Kyra, Charlotte, and Bowen, Numerous great grandchildren; Brothers Gerald Fugate and wife Connie, Jack Bright and wife Linda; Sisters: Marilyn Bright, Sharon Verlander and numerous nephews and nieces.