Jeffrey Alan Powell, 62, passed away unexpectedly on January 14, 2020, in Conroe, Texas.  Jeff was born August 8, 1957, to John H. Powell and Helen "Maxine" Heckathorn (formerly Helen M. Powell) in Lafayette, Indiana. Both preceded him in death.

Jeff grew up in Rochester, Indiana, where he was a foreign exchange student during high school and fell in love with Norway.  He graduated from Rochester Community High School in 1975 and attended Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, where he received his Bachelor of Science in Accounting degree in 1980.  Jeff had an extensive background in banking which began when he joined American Fletcher National Bank in 1980.  Soon, he was promoted to Vice President in the Auditing Department of Bank One, Indianapolis, where he worked until 2005.  In 2005, he joined Citizens Republic Bancorp, in Flint, Michigan, as Senior Vice President, Controller and Chief Accounting Officer.  From 2008 to 2011, Jeff served as Executive Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer for Iberia Bank Corporation where he developed a process which allowed the bank to become the first to pay off TARP funding.  In 2011, Jeff went to Hamilton State Bancshares, Inc. in Hoschton, Georgia, where he served as the Chief Financial Officer until 2017.  At the time of his passing, Jeff served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Spirit of Texas Bank in Conroe, Texas.  He had become well-known in the banking industry for his experience and knowledge.

If you were fortunate enough to know Jeffrey, then you would know that he was the most selfless person you would have ever met.  He lived his life striving to make everyone around him happy.  If you were happy, then he was happy.  Jeff would often say that there was no one in this world that he loved more than his family.  One of his favorite things to do was to spoil his wife and kids.  He had an analogy for everything and he instilled his traits and values into anything and everyone that he met.  You were a better person after meeting him and usually smarter, too.  If you didn't feel that you were either of these things, then you were most definitely laughing.  Jeff always came to the party with a handful of jokes, old and new, that he would use to brighten everyone's day, especially with his deep infectious laugh.  He spent all his free time with his wife and kids.  He loved fishing, cooking, traveling, and spoiling his dogs.  He often told his wife and kids how much they meant to him and wanted them to know how important they were.  Jeff did not have a bad bone in his body and it always showed.  He was the ultimate role model to his children and friends.  He always saw the best in everyone and looked for ways to bring them all closer together.  Jeff lived his life to the fullest and had a heart filled with love and a family full of pride to show it.  Jeff was truly one of a kind and will be dearly missed, always remembered, and his legacy will remain instilled in those he was most proud of.

Jeff leaves to cherish his memory his beautiful bride, Kim Powell of Madisonville, Louisiana; his daughter, Alaina Wilson (Nicholas) of Lafayette, Louisiana; two sons, Derek Wilson (Brooke) of Franklin, Indiana, and Matt Wilson (Jen) of Fort Campbell, Kentucky; four brothers, John H. Powell of Macy, Indiana, James H. Powell (Karla) of Chadron, Nebraska, Otto "Leroy" Hartman of Rochester, and Jerry Dean "J.D." Heckathorn (Stacy) both of Rochester, Indiana; and his dad, Jerry D. Heckathorn (Rhonda) of Rochester, Indiana.

Preceding him in death are, his Mom, Helen "Maxine" Heckathorn, and his Father, John H. Powell; his grandparents, Otto Leroy Hartman and Mary B. Stevens Hartman, Daniel Lawson Powell and Fay Elizabeth Geiger Powell, and Kenny and Mary Jane Heckathorn; and his favorite pup, Darby.

Private services for the family will be held on Friday, January 17, 2020, entrusted to Klein Funeral Home in Magnolia, Texas.  On January 30, 2020, there will be a lunch reception at 12:00 p.m. followed by a Celebration of Life at 1:00 p.m. at Spirit of Texas Bank, 1836 Spirit of Texas Way, (formerly 815 West Davis) Conroe, Texas 77301.