Arthur F. "Art" Powers, Jr, 78, of Decatur, passed away Friday, April 20, 2018, in Sullivan Rehabilitation and Health Care Center, Sullivan, IL. 

Art was born October 18, 1939, the son of Arthur F. and Opal Imogene (Clemons) Powers. A U.S. Navy veteran and member of Ss. James and Patrick Parish, Judge Powers served his country proudly aboard the U.S.S. Saratoga. He liked flying, fishing and spending time with his grandchildren. Art married Carolyn J. Edwards August 17, 1968, in Centralia. 

Judge Powers received his bachelor's and master's degrees from Eastern Illinois University and his law degree from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, in 1978. He served as assistant state's attorney and state's attorney for Moultrie County before being appointed in 1980 as an associate circuit judge for the Sixth Judicial Circuit, including Champaign, Dewitt, Douglas, Macon, Moultrie, and Piatt Counties. During his tenure with the judiciary, he was a member of the Illinois State Bar Association and Illinois Judges Association. Upon his retirement from the bench, Art returned to the classroom as a criminal justice instructor for Richland Community College and also served as a hearing officer for the city of Decatur. 

Art was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Linda Cardinal. 

Surviving are his wife, Carolyn; son, John Andrew (Kim) Powers of Hawthorn Woods, Ill.; daughter, Sara Jean Barnett of Decatur, Ill.; he was "Pawpaw" to five very special grandchildren, Sydney Nicole Lewis, Riley Kathleen Barnett, Aidan Jeffrey Powers Barnett, Connor Thomas Powers and John Michael (Jack) Powers.