Sylvia Ruth Powers

In Loving Memory of Sylvia Ruth (Gaw) Powers

May 31, 1936 – October 23, 2026

Sylvia Ruth (Gaw) Powers, 90, of Independence, Missouri, passed away peacefully on Friday, October 23, 2026. Sylvia lived a beautiful and fulfilling life, embracing each of her 90 years with love, purpose, and a deep appreciation for the people and experiences that made life meaningful.

Born on May 31, 1936, in Independence, Missouri, Sylvia was the daughter of Olen and Sylvia Madge (Green) Gaw. Her journey eventually took her to Torrance, California, where she met the love of her life, Buddy Fred Powers. Together, they began a lifetime of love, family, adventure, and shared dreams.

Throughout their marriage, Sylvia and Buddy made homes in Independence, Missouri; Wichita, Kansas; Memphis, Tennessee; Wexford, Pennsylvania; and Alexandria, Virginia, before returning to Independence in 1973.

In 1977, Sylvia and Buddy turned their shared passion for tennis into a lasting legacy when they

founded Courtside Tennis Center in Blue Springs, Missouri. Together, they owned and operated the facility, which became a beloved gathering place and the heart of the tennis community in eastern Jackson County for many years.

Sylvia was an accomplished and enthusiastic tennis player and an avid gardener who loved being outdoors tending to her flowers. But above all, Sylvia was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and a dear friend to those who knew her deeply. While she took pride in her many accomplishments, nothing brought her greater happiness than her family.

She had a deep appreciation for classical piano music, particularly Debussy’s Clair de Lune, whose beauty reflected her own love of life’s quieter, more meaningful moments. She also found joy in tending to her flowers, preparing meals, and gathering loved ones around the table. Some of her most treasured memories were made in the kitchen and in the company of family, where her love was expressed through the simple but meaningful act of caring for others.

Sylvia lived by the Ten Commandments, which served as her moral compass throughout her life. She believed in treating others with dignity, kindness, respect, and compassion. These values were not simply principles she held but qualities she demonstrated in the way she lived and loved. Sylvia’s life was a beautiful example of strength, devotion, faith, and grace. She leaves behind a legacy not only in the family she cherished and the business she helped build, but also in the countless lives she touched through her generosity, warmth, and unwavering kindness.

Family and Loved Ones

Sylvia was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Buddy Powers; her eldest daughter, Pamela Hall; her granddaughters, Emma Powers, daughter of Corey and Julie Powers, and Sarah Hall, daughter of Pamela and Roger Hall; Michael Gilbert, life partner of her daughter Leslie Powers; and her brothers, Donald and Gary Gaw.

She is survived by her three children: Corey Powers and his wife, Julie, of Farmington, Missouri;

Leslie Powers of Northglenn, Colorado; and Don (Donnie) Powers and his wife, Marie, of Blue Springs, Missouri.

Sylvia was a proud grandmother to nine grandchildren: Pamela’s children, Kerry Haddad and her husband, Max, of Fredericksburg, Virginia; Darren Glass and his wife, Kristine, of Scranton, Pennsylvania; Rachel Connor and her husband, Chris, of Fredericksburg, Virginia; and Matthew Hall of King George, Virginia; Corey’s son, Ian Powers of Fort Collins, Colorado; Leslie’s children, Lindsay Vandewart and her husband, Kyle, of Northglenn, Colorado, and Stephen Stanton of Oak Grove, Missouri; and Don’s children, Asher and Liev Powers of Blue Springs, Missouri.

She was also blessed with eight great-grandchildren: Silas and Maddox Newman, Evie and Kai Haddad, Aria and Amelie Vandewart, and Ember and Sullivan Connor.

Sylvia is also survived by her siblings, Art Green and his wife, Marsha; Patricia Eskina; and Sandra Marshall, along with her sister-in-law, Doris Gaw, wife of the late Gary Gaw.

A Celebration of Life

Family and friends are invited to gather in remembrance of Sylvia’s remarkable life on Friday, December 4, 2026, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Carson-Speaks Funeral Home

1501 W. Lexington Avenue

Independence, Missouri 64052

5:00 – 5:30 PM Gathering of Family and Friends

5:30 – 6:15 PM Sharing memories of Sylvia

6:15 – 7:00 PM Casual Conversations

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions honoring Sylvia may be made to The Heart of America Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association.

Sylvia will be remembered for her gentle spirit, her enduring faith, her love of family, and the kindness she extended to everyone she met. Though her presence will be deeply missed, the love she gave, the memories she created, and the values she passed down will continue to live on through the generations.

A life beautifully lived, a family deeply loved, and a legacy that will endure.