Patricia May Powers

Patricia (Patty) May Powers, age 67, passed away unexpectedly at her home in North Fort Myers on January 13, 2022. She was born September 7, 1954 in Washington, Vermont to Bernace and Hazel Braley.

In 1973 she graduated from Hartford High School, and began working at Tip Top Bakery in White River Junction while juggling duties as a single mother. Years later, her love of baking led her to work at Something Moore Bakery in South Royalton, Vermont. After that bakery closed, she briefly owned Hannah's Cafe in the same location. Nothing pleased her more than being social, and until she retired in 2010, she enjoyed jobs that allowed her to mix with the public, particularly at Fran's Food store, The Sharon Trading Post and Welch's Hardware. Her sunny disposition and beaming smile were always on display, and her laugh was infectious. Her love of music often had her breaking out in song while working, which made everyone smile. Later in life she met her soulmate and rock, Shawn Powers, in an online chat group, and they wed on October 13, 2001. It was a gorgeous autumn day, and she was particularly pleased that her dear mother was in attendance, and that her best friends and family were there to celebrate with her.

Patty and Shawn lived in South Royalton until 2010 and then relocated to North Fort Myers, Florida. They spent several seasons as 'snowbirds' and traveled back to Vermont for the Summers. Camping was a favorite activity, and they loved hosting cookouts and gatherings with family and friends at the campgrounds they called home around Vermont and Maine in those years. The golf cart she dubbed 'Little Hazel' was used to travel around the campgrounds, and then was used as a favorite nightly ride around the Florida community they lived in to visit friends and neighbors.

Patty was a woman of many talents, and everything that she pursued was done with passion and precision. Everyone that knows her can attest to her baking skills. Her chocolate chip cookies were legendary, and when she had the bakery, her glazed donuts and other goodies fueled many mornings of townspeople, law students and local high school students. She was a master at crafts and sewing. Her sewing room was always filled with beautiful projects at various stages of completion. Her and Shawn attended many craft shows to sell the wares that she handcrafted and baked. Local firehouses and homeless charities benefited from her generous donations of food and baked goods.

Social gatherings were always a happy event for Patty, and when there was good food, good laughs, and good dessert (especially cake) she was in her element. Just the idea and planning of a dinner had her giddy with excitement, because she loved the warm feeling of togetherness with family and friends. Her adventurous nature led her to experience travel to meet friends in different parts of the country, and an international trip to Europe in 1999 was something that she recalled fondly.

In 2017 Patty was blessed with her first grandchild, Alice. It was a moment she had been waiting a lifetime for, and little Alice was the light of her life. She adored being a grandmother and could not go long without seeing her. She shared her love of Alice, and of everyday life on social media. Her posts were often humorous and heartfelt. She loved the interactions from friends far and wide. When she detailed experiences with health conditions, they were painfully honest, but they always had a sense of being hopeful, and ended with her words 'Keep smiling'.

Patty is survived by her husband, Shawn Powers, her two sons, Shawn and Joshua Braley, his wife Casey, granddaughter, Alice, as well as her siblings, Charlotte Fisk, Bernard and George Braley, many beloved cousins, nieces and nephews. She was particularly close to her niece, Christy Garrow, her husband, Peter, and their daughter, Lexi.

Patty wished to be cremated and to have a memorial celebration, which will be determined later and scheduled for a Spring day in Vermont.