ERIC POWELL
Died March 8, 2013
SNEADS FERRY -- Eric Vernon Powell, 37, of Sneads Ferry, passed away Friday, March 8, 2013, from complications of A.L.S., at Lower Cape Fear Hospice in Wilmington.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, March 11, at Salem Baptist Church in Sneads Ferry with the Rev. Jody Yopp and Gene Ennett officiating. Burial will follow at Onslow Memorial Park. The family will receive friends at the church, prior to the service, beginning at noon.
Eric was the manager of a long-standing family business, New River Marina in Sneads Ferry. While working at the marina, he took great pride in assisting and guiding anglers with his fishing expertise. He was an avid hunter and an accomplished sports fisherman and traveled many miles participating in fishing tournaments up and down the East Coast. In addition to his love of fishing, Eric was an avid and faithful fan of UNC basketball at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
His friends and family organized the Eric Powell Red Fish Tournament in 2011, and it was one of the largest ever hosted for such a tournament. The tournament was hosted again in 2012 with all monies donated to the Jim "Catfish" Hunter Chapter of the A.L.S. Foundation.
Although fishing and Carolina basketball were his life, both came in a distant second and third place to the greatest love of his life ... his family.
Eric never met a stranger and his love and compassion for people will always be remembered. He had a wide contagious smile, which served to make everyone around him comfortable. His gentle nature and personality will be missed by all that knew him.
Eric's paternal grandmother, Bertie Powell; maternal grandmother, Ruth Powell; and maternal grandfather, Richard Powell, preceded him in death.
He is survived by his parents, Dale and Nancy Powell; his paternal grandfather, Huck Powell; his Aunt Durene and Uncle Willis Hudson; and cousins, Carrie and Peter Maynard. Eric is also survived by his wife, Cathy Powell; and his sons, Caleb and Kyle.
The Powell family would like to thank the nurses who cared for Eric during this difficult time with a great deal of love and kindness. They became as members of the family to all.
Eric was a member of the Sneads Ferry Rotary Club and the Sneads Ferry Volunteer Fire Department.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Jim "Catfish" Hunter Chapter of the A.L.S. Foundation, 120 Penmarc Drive, Suite 101, Raleigh, NC 27603, or to Lower Cape Fear Hospice, 1406 Physicians Drive, Wilmington, NC 28401.
Electronic condolences may be left for the family at www.jonesfh.org.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on March 10, 2013 2:10 PM