Mary E. Powell

Affectionately known as Evonne, Mary Yvonne Easton was born October 2, 1947 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. (She changed the 'Y' in her name to an 'E' because she was tired of people mispronouncing her name.) She was the second child to the late Bishop John W. Easton and the late Mother Mary A. Easton. Evonne was called home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, May 27, 2026. She died peacefully with her family at her side.

As a young child, the family moved frequently until settling in the Harrisburg area again. Evonne enjoyed school throughout her academic years and ultimately graduated from William Penn High School in 1966. This is where she met the love of her life, Fred B. Powell. After graduation, Evonne moved to Washington, DC and worked for the US Department of Treasury.

Evonne and Fred married on December 2, 1968. They moved to Baltimore, Maryland and started a family. Evonne continued to be a devoted wife & mother while working for the Social Security Administration. While carrying her second child, the family relocated to York, Pennsylvania. There, she lead an active Girl Scout Troop, worked full-time at several community centers, commuted to Harrisburg for family and church obligations weekly and remained steadfast in her duties at home. In 1983, Evonne fulfilled her dream in becoming an entrpreneur utilizing her God-given culinary skills. She opened up a restaurant. She named it Eastco Carry Out which she said was short for Easton & Company. Though successful, Evonne closed the restaurant 4 years later, feeling the neccessity to focus on her teenage children's needs at that time. Once her children had achieved the level of stability satifactory to Evonne, she and Fred built their current home and moved back to Harrisburg. She worked for 15 years at Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEEA) until retiring in 2012.

As a preacher's kid, born & raised in Holiness, Evonne was always active in the church. She was baptized in Jesus' Name in 1959 and filled with the gift of the Holy Ghost in 1982. Through the years, Evonne's ministry has included choir director, choir member, played organ & piano, kitchen committee, lead cook, integral with starting/maintaining radio broadcast, light (and some not so light) carpentry, decorating, children's program director, Sunday School Teacher, Vacation Bible School coordinator, church treasurer, assisted with planning church trips, and mentoring youth.

In her free time, Evonne enjoyed traveling, puzzling, going for drives, spending time with family & friends, visiting with her grandchildren, trying new restaurants, making up games with her children, watching her favorite channel Pixel, and listening to gospel music.

Evonne was preceded in death by her parents Bishop John W. and Mother Mary Easton, siblings John Jerry Easton, Juanita Easton, Larry "Jo Rock" Easton, Cecil Easton, and William Easton. She is survived by her husband of 57 years Fred; children Andre (Shontra) Powell, Sr. of Naples, Florida and Lisa Renee Sheridan of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; grandchildren Derrell (Snoh) Cook, Zoe Powell, Logan Daniels, Andre Powell Jr., Brady Daniels and Sam Powell; great-granddaughter Xori Cook; siblings Elaine Easton, Lynette Brooks, Melvin Easton, Joyce (Aree Ben Zion, formally Charles) Jenkins, Arleen Bonheur and Isaiah (Maria) Easton; one aunt Patricia "Shirley" English; an army of nieces and nephews; and hosts of other close family & friends.