HELEN GAIL POWERS “GG” WILTY

1935-2018

passed away on March 9, 2018 in Houston, TX, at the age of 82. Gail was born on August 26, 1935 in Houston to Austin Brownlee Powers and Freda Marie Michel Powers. Gail graduated Valedictorian from Gretna High School in 1953 and attended Louisiana State University where she earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts with a Minor in Spanish in 1957. Gail also received her Master of Fine Arts in Sculpture from Louisiana State University in1959. Gail was a member of Phi Mu Sorority and of Delta Kappa Gamma Society for Women Educators. After college, Gail taught High School Art for 32 years in the Jefferson Parish Public School System at West Jefferson High School. Gail was a member and President of the Gretna German American Cultural and Genealogical Society and a Member of Salem Lutheran Church in Gretna, LA, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Baton Rouge, LA, and Memorial Lutheran Church in Houston, TX. Gail was a lifelong artist, creating countless pieces of art ranging from wood, stone and ceramic sculpture to acrylic and oil paintings. Her subject matter varied from the abstract and non-objective to plants, flowers, family, friends, students and angels. Her creations will forever be a remembrance of her loving, faithful, colorful and vibrant body and soul.Gail was preceded in death her parents Austin B. Powers and Freda M. Powers, her sister Dianne Powers Orlesh and her beloved husband of 45 years Roy Herman Wilty, Sr. Gail is survived by her three children Michel Powers Wilty, Autumn Gail Wilty McCowan (Trey) and Roy Herman Wilty, Jr (Catherine); her seven grandchildren Austin Powers Wilty (Reagan), Charles Simon McCowan IV (Mac), Mary Gail McCowan, Autumn Mathile McCowan (Mathile), Margaret Emelie McCowan (Maggie), John Powers Wilty (Powers) and Patrick Thomas Wilty; her brother-in-law Joseph Michael Orlesh, Jr. and his two daughters Jennifer Orlesh Zitt (Tom) and Jan Orlesh Conway (Francis); and numerous aunts, nieces, nephews and cousins. A memorial service will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church in Algiers Point, New Orleans at 11:00 AM Saturday, March 17, 2018. The service will be preceded by a visitation beginning at 10:00 AM. A memorial service in Houston, TX will be scheduled at a later date. In lieu of Flowers, gifts can be made in honor of Gail to SoleAna stables in Pearland, TX. The family would like to express special thanks and appreciation to the staff of MD Anderson Cancer Center and Palliative Care Unit and the Houston Hospice – Texas Medical Center, for the kind, compassionate and professional treatment of their mother and grandmother. Tributes and words of condolence can be left at www.settegastkopf.com