Reverend Elvin Merrill Powers

Elvin Merrill Powers, 91, of Meridian, Idaho, was promoted to glory on June 9, 2026. Born on May 30, 1935, in Green Township, in Randolph County, Indiana, he was the second son of Waymond B. Powers and Veletta Irene (Cline) Powers.

As a youth, Elvin was an exceptional student and a talented musician. He attended grades 1-12 in Saratoga, Indiana. A Christian from an early age, he was an active at the Pilgrim Holiness Church he attended with his family, where he served as a leader in the youth group and shared his musical gifts through the trombone and voice. While in high school, he began singing in a quartet with his mother, his brother Loren, and his best friend Howard Castle. The Powers/Castle Musical Messengers traveled across several Midwest states holding revivals for seven years until Elvin’s college graduation.

Though he originally intended to become a mathematics teacher, Elvin felt a divine call to the ministry during a chapel service in his freshman year at Marion College. During his second year, while his quartet was singing at a tent meeting, he met Verla Ruth Lacy, the young lady who would become his wife. Elvin and Verla were married on August 27, 1956. Following his graduation with a Bachelor of Arts in Religion, he accepted his first pastorate at a rural church near Greenfield, Indiana, while also working as an elementary teacher to support his growing family.

Throughout his ministry, Elvin pastored congregations in Indiana, Michigan, and Missouri. He concluded his career serving as the Assistant District Superintendent of the Kansas City District Church of the Nazarene. Dedicated to lifelong learning, he earned a Master of Science in Educational Administration from Butler University and a Doctor of Ministry in Pastoral Care from Luther Rice Seminary. Elvin also served on several community boards, including a hospital board, a senior living community Board of Directors, and a pharmaceutical Institutional Review Board, where he was recognized for 35 years of service representing ethical concerns.

As an Elder in the Church of the Nazarene, Elvin served on several district boards, including the District Advisory Boards of the Eastern Michigan District and the Kansas City District. He was a published author, writing Building a Caring-Sharing Community of Believers, contributing chapters to two other books, and authoring a series of devotionals for Come Ye Apart all of which were published by the publishing arm of the Church of the Nazarene. His contributions were recognized by the Kansas City District with the Nazarene Missions International Distinguished Service Award and the Nazarene Sunday Schools Second Mile Award. He received the Paul Harris Fellow Award from the Rotary Club, and as a parent of a Salvation Army Officer, he was inducted into the Fellowship of the Silver Star. Additionally, he was a guest lecturer at Mid-America Nazarene University and Nazarene Theological Seminary.

Elvin was a devoted husband and father who found joy in bowling with his teenage children, planning family vacations, and attending his children’s many musical and sporting events. An avid reader and a man of deep faith, his greatest desire was for his family to serve Christ, and he faithfully prayed for each of them by name every day.

Elvin was preceded in death by his mother; his brothers, Arvin Dale Powers and Loren Marcell Powers; his loving in-laws, D.W. and Vera Lacy; his grandson, Jesse Daniel Walker; and his great-grandson, Brayden Patrick Donovan. He is survived by his wife, Verla (Lacy) Powers; his children, Coleen (Don)

Walker, Joanne (Michael) Mruzek, Merril (Nancy) Powers, and Dale (Kayce) Powers; twelve grandchildren: Jennifer Walker, Johnathan Walker, Joshua (Danielle) Walker, Jacob (Nicole) Walker, Joanna (Aaron) Rusch, Kyle (Kristi) Donovan, Sean Donovan, Megan (Brad Poremba) Fuller, Kathryn Powers, Robert (Kelley) Powers, Michael Powers, and Benjamin Powers; and 11 great-grandchildren.

To honor Elvin’s life, the family welcomes memorial donations to Valley Shepherd Church of the Nazarene Special Designation Fund (Valley Shepherd Church of the Nazarene) or The Salvation Army Columbia, Missouri Corps (The Salvation Army Columbia). Flowers are also gratefully accepted.