Carl Powell
courtesy photo
Carl Powell
ARLEE – Carl “Tuffy” Powell passed away in Missoula from pancreatic cancer on Oct. 23, 2018. Tuffy was born Aug. 28, 1934, to Andrew Paul Powell and Vivian (La- Munyon) Powell in Buffalo, Oklahoma.
Tuffy spent his early years living in Oklahoma and later moved to Sunnyside, Washington. When he married he moved to Arlee, and there he and Sidney built a log home.
Early in Tuffy’s life, he was a jockey that rode many races in Oklahoma, South Dakota, Montana and Washington states. He rode his first match race at the age of 5 weighing only 42 lbs. When he was 16 years old and the legal age to ride at the bigger race tracks, he was finished riding.
Tuffy spent all of his life at thoroughbred race tracks working on starting gates, in the jockey’s room as a valet and he also trained horses, shod horses and worked maintenance at Gulfstream Race Track in Florida and Emerald Downs Race Track in Washington. Two of his favorite horses that he trained were “Monatani” and “Grantrick.” The last 13 years of his life were spent in retirement.
Tuffy made beautiful lariat baskets from the used lariats his son, grandsons and friends passed on to him. He was always so happy when some of his “boys” came with their used ropes. Tuffy was very proud of how his yard and fields looked. Tuffy also liked to do woodwork and made very nice Adirondack chairs, large and small.
Tuffy was preceded in death by his parents and his brothers, Odis (Buck) and Martin (Lee).
He is survived by his wife, Sidney Schall Powell and two sons, Brent (Patti) of St. Ignatius and Jeff (Sharon) of Arlee and five grandsons, Brice, Clay and Will Powell and Reece and Riley Bailey; and his dog Bo. He is also survived by his brothers, Jack, Dick (Joy), Max (Carol), Pat (Ann) and his sister, Pauline Todd; his brother in-law, Ted Schall; and his sister in-law, Betty Mae Schall; as well as many nieces, nephews and many, many friends across the United States.
Services have been held.
Memories and condolences may be sent to the family at: www.shriderthompson.com.
Arrangements are under the direction of Shrider–Thompson Funeral Home.
