Theodore Powers

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Theodore Anthony Powers, aka: Ted, Tiny, Toad, Brother, on January 8, 2023 in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Ted was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico on March 24, 1952 to Alice Mary Powers and Ralph Bernard Powers, Jr.

Ted and his family walked to the beat of a different drum. A drum of generations past. A time when life was simpler and harder. A time when necessities were scarce. When making money meant putting food on the table. When people looked out for each other and shared and helped each other out. His parents lived in those days of old. But they also kept that mentality in modern times, and Ted kept that mentality throughout his life.

Those who were lucky enough to have known Ted, know how he made you feel important, cared for, and loved. Like you were family. Our stories about Ted are all different, yet all the same - stories of his kindness, his joy, his wanting to help, his wanting to improve your life. When he was with you, you knew he wanted to be with you, and that you were important to him. His joy in life truly was in helping others.

Ted was a volunteer at Mesilla Valley Hospice for many years. The organization claims he was one of their most dedicated and most beloved volunteers. He served the organization in many ways, from singing at patients' bedsides and at mass in La Posada's chapel every Sunday, to weekly grocery runs, from running errands to helping out with fundraising events, repairing clocks to be sold at The Emporium, and a myriad of other tasks. He was always willing to do anything that was asked of him. He was always so proud to wear his Mesilla Valley Hospice polo shirt, and he made sure people noticed it, noticed who he was, and knew what Hospice represented and what Hospice meant to him (and what Hospice could mean to them). Ted so strongly believed in Mesilla Valley Hospice's mission, that he entrusted his mother's care to them, and over the past 11-12 years he devoted much of his time to Mesilla Valley Hospice.

Ted's spirit of volunteerism didn't end with Mesilla Valley Hospice. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus of Las Cruces. He was a member and performer of Las Cruces Ukes, a community group of ukulele enthusiasts. He was a long time member of Voz Vaqueros, known as "The Singing Men of Las Cruces". He sang and played his guitar at Mass in Our Lady of Guadalupe Church and in other churches over the years. Ted was a member of Los Pastores Del Valle de Mesilla. He was the choir director since 1989, and had been with Los Pastores since the 1970's. He was a past member of the New Horizons Symphony Orchestra, a group of amateur and professional musicians performing in Las Cruces (he played the violin, viola, cello and bass). Ted learned to play after an adult friend gave him a violin when he was 10, and he said "I haven't quit since."

Ted - avid reader, volunteer, musician, devoted son, real life superhero, friend to all; but most importantly, an invisible man, a "who was that masked man" type of man, an altruist and humanitarian always concerned and wanting to help others. It was his passion.

Ted was preceded in death by his father, Ralph Bernard Powers, Jr. and his mother, Alice Mary Powers who lived to be 102 years old. He leaves behind cousins Patricia Elizabeth De Bauer of Captain Cook, Hawaii and John Ralph Powers of Elk Grove Village, Illinois and many special friends who became family to him.



Services will be held Tuesday, February 21st at The Shrine and Parish of Our Lady of Guadalupe, 3600 Parroquia Street in Tortugas. Recitation of the Holy Rosary will begin at 9:30am with a funeral mass to follow at 10:00am. After the funeral mass there will be a reception which will include some of the musical groups Ted was a part of performing some of his favorites. Cremation has taken place and interment of cremains will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Mesilla Valley Hospice, 299 Montana Ave, Las Cruces, NM 88005 or to the Knights of Columbus Las Cruces Council 1226. PO Box 171., Las Cruces, NM 88004