Bessie Lorene Powell, 91, of Sundown, formerly of Whiteface, passed away Aug. 17, 2013, in Levelland. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2013, at 2 p.m. at The First Baptist Church in Sundown. Pastor Gil Ramirez and Assisting Pastor Randy Winfrey will be officiating. Music is to be announced. A viewing will be held from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 19, 2013, and family will be receiving friends and family members from 6 to 8 p.m. in Head Duarte Funeral Home Chapel of Levelland Bessie Lorene Nance was born to James M. and Helen F. Nance, on Feb. 26, 1922, in Wortham, Texas. She was one of six children born to that union. She married Clem W. Mc Ham on March 15, 1937, in Whiteface and moved to Ralls shortly thereafter. They remained in Ralls until moving to Sundown in 1945. They had eight children that were born from the 30 years of blessed marriage. Clem worked in the oilfield construction industry, more specifically dirt work involving heavy equipment, and that became the main vocation for not only him, but numerous other brothers-in-law and sons. That has been a very rewarding avocation for the family. Mr. Clem W. McHam passed away on Oct. 19, 1967, leaving Mrs. Bessie Lorene Mc Ham alone to raise her eight children on her own. She worked as a cook at Girlstown for three years. Then the Lord blessed her with a second husband, Mr. Lewis M. Powell, whom she married on March 19, 1970, in Sundown. After 31 yrs. of marriage with Mr. Lewis M. Powell, he passed away on Sept. 27, 2001. Lorene was a loving and devoted wife, mother and grandmother throughout her life, and always encouraged her children to be self-sufficient and encouraged their educational development for them to be successful in life. Lorene enjoyed spending time outside in her flower garden and with her plants. Her favorite pasttime was listening to early gospel music. Her family was her whole life and she enjoyed spending quality time with all of them. She was a devoted Christian who attended services at the First Baptist Church in Sundown for 60 years until her health forced her to lose her independence and depend on her daughters to care for her. She leaves a host of nephews and nieces to cherish her memory. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends. She is survived by sons: Jim L. (Peggy) McHam and J. Robert (Virginia) McHam, both of Levelland; daughters: Dessie P. (Roy) Swim and Geneva J. (Harry) McHam Walls, both of Sundown, Mildred L. (Bobby) McHam Stover of Clifton, Glenda F. (Gerald) McHam Stover of Lake Whitney, Patsy A. (Ray) Harrell of Vealmoor, Texas; brother: Charles (Linda) Nance of Levelland; 31 grandchildren; 74 great-grandchildren; and 45 great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents and her first husband, Clem W. McHam, 1967, and her second husband, Lewis M. Powell, 2001; one son, Eddie Ray McHam in 2007; three sisters, Myrtle Widner, Christene Parker, and Nobie Nance; four brothers, James Junior Nance, Neal Nance, W.B. Bill Fullen, J.W. Nance, Z.T. Nance. Pallbearers and honorary pallbearers will be her grandsons. Interment will be in City of Sundown Cemetery of Sundown. Under the direction of Head Duarte Funeral Home of Levelland.

Published in the Lubbock Avalanche Journal on August 19, 2013