Powell-DeGraw Memorial

Inndia DeGraw-Powell with her son Alex 

& her son, Ashton

On Saturday, November 12, 2011 the Powell & DeGraw families suffered a devastating loss when our beloved wife, mother, daughter, sister & friend, Inndia DeGraw-Powell (age 26) and her two beautiful sons, our brothers & grandsons, Alexander Powell (age 3) and Ashton Powell (age 18 months) all perished in a one car roll-over accident.  Story can be read at: KSL

Inndia's third son, Anthony-age 7 is currently in the U of U Burn ICU, due to an unrelated incident.  He will be allowed to attend their funeral, along with his half-sister, Rylee Smith.

Husband and Father, Thomas Powell has requested that in lieu of flowers being sent to the funeral home, a contribution to the family can be made either through this paypal button or 

"Powell Family Memorial Account" or "Inndia Powell Family Memorial"

at: America First Credit Union. 

Funeral arrangements are pending.

It is our belief that these three beautiful souls are now with God, where they will find continuing love and be wrapped in the warm arms of those who have passed before them.  May they find the music that they loved to dance to, peace and life everlasting.  Until we meet again, I will keep you close to my heart and in my thoughts & prayers.  We miss you!   (Grandma)

You may leave your thoughts-comments for the family below.  Thank You!

Update: Yesterday,  we were able to preview our loved ones and we were able to order a special casket that would allow all three of them to be buried together.  It lifted our hearts to know the boys will be buried in their mothers arms for all of eternity.  

A tragedy like this really makes us take stock of what we value.  

Thank You-My Friends, for your contributions, thoughts & prayers for the family, in our time of need!

Update: Funeral Arrangements are as follows:

 "Viewing #1" Friday, November 18th, 6-8pm  at the LDS Stake Center 6890 S. 2225 E. Cottonwood Heights, UT 84121

"Viewing # 2" Saturday, November 19th, 11am 

Immediately followed by the Funeral Ceremony@ 12pm LDS Stake Center 6890 s. 2225 e. Cottonwood Heights, UT 84121 

Funeral Procession will follow the Ceremony to  Mountain View Memorial at 3115 e. 7800 s. Cottonwood Heights, UT 84121

where Inndia and her boys will be laid to rest.

KSL Follow Up

KSL reported a follow up about Anthony, our grandson who has been in the burn unit at U of U.  He is doing remarkably well, given everything he has gone through this past week and a half.  Having him spend the day with us yesterday was refreshing.   I  watched him play, while he watched me create this cover for his Mother and brother's funeral announcement.  I let him choose his favorite and this is the one he wanted to keep for himself and to share with us.
Anthony loves anything computer related and is very artistic himself, so I think he would enjoy learning how to create digital art.  He can teach me the tricks to playing the computer games he loves to.   He already asked if I would teach him how to play the piano.  Maybe Santa should bring him a keyboard so he could practice.

Obituary

Inndia, Alexander and Ashton Powell

Powell Family
"Together Forever"
Inndia Cherie Powell
April 3, 1985 - November 12, 2011
Alexander Lynn Powell
January 2, 2008 - November 12, 2011
Ashton Ray Powell
April 17, 2010 - November 12, 2011

Inndia, Alex and Ashton have returned home to be with their Heavenly Father. Inndia loved being a wonderful mother, wife, daughter, sister and friend. She enjoyed running and was compassionate and loving to all she knew. Inndia will be remembered for her loving nature, motherly instincts, beautiful brown eyes and a smile that could light up any room! Inndia was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Eagle Mountain and loved to serve her fellowman; living her life in a Christ like manner.
Alex was a leader, always taking charge with his independent strong nature. Alex showed a lot of enthusiasm and loved construction trucks, airplanes and heavy equipment. He was a big super hero fan, but most of all he truly loved the real heroes like firemen, policemen, military personnel and most of all, his father!
Ashton was the happiest baby you could ever meet. He loved his mommy and was always by her side. He looked up to his brothers and watched their every move with fascination. Ashton is our little miracle that will live in our hearts and thoughts forever!
They are survived by husband and father Thomas Powell, son and brother Anthony Powell, Anthony's half sister Rylee Smith, Cherie Bitsue (Inndia's mother), Kyle Despain (Inndia's father), Chanel Bitsue (sister), grandparents, great grandparents and many more family members on both sides.
Anthony will have the blessing and opportunity to live his life in the manner in which his mother taught him and to always remember the special moments he had with his brothers.
Even in times of tragedy there are always good things to look for in life. Anthony and his father will be together giving of their love and strength to support and carry each other through the times ahead.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, November 19, 2011 at 12 noon at the Cottonwood Heights Stake Center, 2225 East 6890 South in Salt Lake City. A viewing will be held on Friday, November 18, 2011 from 6 to 8 pm at the church and one hour prior to services. Interment will be at Mountain View Memorial Cemetery located at 3115 East 7800 South (Bengal Blvd.).
The family wants to thank everybody for their thoughts, kind words and prayers! There are two trusts set up if you would like to make a donation. The first is through America First Credit Union and is called "Inndia Powell Family Memorial." The second is an online option if you cannot make it to an America First Branch, the link is: http://www.gofundme.com/a2mvg

Published in Salt Lake Tribune on November 18, 2011

And Life Goes On

While I was sitting at the cemetery, listening to the final prayers from the guest speakers, I was watching those around me.  The little ones were silently playing together and as I watched, I realized that come Monday, they would be going back to school.  I moved my line of sight to the next person standing there and the thought that he would have to go back to work, she would be teaching her class, the baby would be in day care.  Regardless of the sadness and tearful good-byes we were saying that day, life would continue on.  Whether we are prepared for it to continue or not, it would move us along on an invisible thread. 

Life doesn’t stop for the living.  Nor does it stop for those grieving for their lost ones.  We simply carry the grief along the way with us.  We hold strongly in our hearts, the grief for our passing loved ones, while we mindlessly take the necessary steps of the living. 

Breathe, just breathe.  Let the world continue to spin and while I sit and contemplate my fate in the universal knowledge that life goes on, I cannot make plans for the future just yet.  It will take time for me to understand the new direction my life must take at this juncture in the long road of my journey.

Long or short, we each have been given the opportunity of time.  Use it wisely, use it frivolously, use it for the good of all or simply enjoy it to the fullest, but never waste it.  Once it is gone, it is gone forever and you cannot, in this lifetime, get it back.   

I pray that each of you receives the wisdom to live a rewarding life and that each of you knows the meaning of the heartfelt love from family, friends and God.   Cherish it today, tomorrow and always.  Thank you for sharing your kind words, your thoughts and your prayers with me and my family.  They touched our hearts and we felt the warmth of your hugs. 

In Honor of our Loved Ones

Many of you already know that Anthony was in the U of U Burn Center during the time that his Mother and Brothers were killed in a car accident out on Highway 80.  The doctors, nurses, bishop of the LDS Church, social counselor and others helped the family prepare for the day when Anthony needed to be told that he could tell his Mom & brothers good-bye, one last time, but that they would not be waiting for him when he returned home to Eagle Mountain. 

In Honor of Inndia, Alex and Ashton, we would love to organize a special event for the nurses and patients that will be calling the hospital home during this Christmas season.  We would like to host the 12 Days of Christmas for them, as a Thank You from Inndia, Alex and Ashton, for all the help they provided for us in our time of need.  If you would like to be considered a holiday elf this year, please contact Cindy (Grandma) at: powellcynthia @ comcast.net  or leave me a message on my facebook page and I will get back to you.  Thanks!

Update: Thanks to several friends and family donations, we were able to provide some Christmas cheer for the 12 Days of Christmas for the 12 bed unit at the U of U burn ICU.