Dr. LaVern I. "Vern" Powers, 89, died March 20, 2014, at Hester Care Center. He was born July 21, 1924, in Bellefont, KS, to Grant and Alice Margarett (Henning) Powers. Vern graduated from Bucklin High School in 1942 and Dodge City Community College in 1947. He then graduated from Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tenn. He was a retired Doctor of Optometry.

He married Aavon M. Mendenhall on Feb. 1, 1947, in Dodge City. Vern was a member of Grace Episcopal Church.

Vern served in the United States Army in Okinawa and Korea during World War II.

He belonged to the American Legion Lysle Rishel Post #68, Loyal Order of Moose #982, AMBUCS, Hutchinson-Reno Masonic Lodge #124 A.F. & A.M. and the Reno County Shrine Club.

He and Aavon were members of the State Fair Promenade Square Dance Club. Vern was a member of the American Optometric Association and a member and past president of the Kansas Optometric Association.

Vern is survived by: his wife, Aavon Powers, Hutchinson; three brothers, Grant Powers (Bonnie), Spearville, Richard Powers (Ellene), Greenwood, MO, and Galen Powers (Kay), Sanford, NC; three sisters, Berniece Logan, O'Fallon, MO, Gerva Hargett (Lynn), Kiowa, and Norma Ross (Stanton), League City, Texas; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, Virgil, Clarence and Norman Powers, two sisters, Geraldine Dohrmann and Genevieve Cayton, and brother-in-law, Richard Logan.

Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, March 27, 2014, at Grace Episcopal Church, Hutchinson, with the Right Reverend Michael P. Milliken presiding. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday with the family to receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Elliott Chapel, Hutchinson. Burial will be in Penwell Gabel Cemetery and Mausoleum, Hutchinson, with military honors conducted by the Kansas Army National Guard. Memorials may be made to Grace Episcopal Church, Kansas Cosmosphere, AMBUCS, American Optometric Association (KOF Foundation), Hospice of Reno County, Soroptimist International, or the donor's choice, all in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 North Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.