Lois Avery

Lois Ann (Collins) Avery, 83, of Whitharral, Texas passed from this life at Hickory Place Assisted Living Community, Levelland, Texas on Sunday, December 27, 2020. Visitors will be received at Krestridge Funeral Home, Levelland beginning Tuesday evening. Graveside services only will be held at Whitharral Cemetery at 2:00 Thursday, December 31.

Lois was born October 11, 1937 in West Texas Hospital, Lubbock to F.J. and Effie Collins of Meadow, Texas. She was the first of three children: Jim born in 1946 and Patsy born in 1951.

Lois attended school in Southland grades 1 to 6, in Ropesville grades 6 to 8, then the family moved to the Three Way community near Morton, Texas where she went to high school and graduated in 1955.

After graduation from high school, Lois moved to Lubbock to get a job. There she met Don Avery who had been honorably discharged from the U.S. Airforce in 1954 and was a student at Texas Technological College. They married his junior year. He graduated in 1957 and their first child, Donna Faye Avery, was born in Lubbock July 18, 1957.

After graduation Don, Lois Ann and Donna moved to Morton, Texas where he was the manager of Wood Chemical Company. Lois Ann’s parents, Faye and Effie Collins, lived and farmed near Morton. On March 27, 1959, Lois Ann gave birth to Bobby Ray Avery at the Cochran Memorial Hospital in Morton.

Don then took a job as the manager of Hawkeye Spraying Service and moved his young family to their new home in Littlefield, Texas. On October 24, 1960, Jimmy Wayne Avery was born. Don left the chemical business in 1961 and went to work selling insurance for C&I Life.  Then the young family got the opportunity to move to Don’s hometown of Whitharral. They bought a home 8 miles south of Littlefield and the children went to Whitharral schools. After their children graduated from Whitharral High School, Don and Lois Ann also farmed about 1800 acres for several years. On January 1, 1986, Don was sworn in as Hockley County Judge serving 2 terms. In 2012, Lois fulfilled her dream of moving to “town” when they purchased their residence in Whitharral.

Lois Ann Avery lived a life of service. She served her community in many capacities as Don’s wife, her kids’ Mom, a friend to all in the community. She always volunteered and showed up to every event with a smile and lots of food to share. Lois was a caregiver, and many friends and family members were recipients of her loving care. All who knew Lois witnessed this kindness. She doted on the children of the family, whether her own or grandchildren or nieces or nephews. There was always a warm hug, surprises and a full candy dish for all her “littles.”

Lois was a master cook; her specialty was Mexican food, and her Christmas candies were legendary. She was an expert seamstress and designer. She was known for buying clothes from the thrift store that were made of beautiful fabric, then designing amazing clothing from what she salvaged. She loved antiques, a partner with her son Bobby many years in a booth at an antiques mall. She could envision a use and space for interesting old furniture and did a wonderful job of refinishing and repurposing. Her favorite pastime was bowling, and she excelled in that sport and loved time spent with her friends at the bowling alley. Lois had an amazing “can-do” attitude and was good at anything she set her mind to accomplish. She was a devoted wife, mom, daughter, sister, aunt, niece, cousin and friend. All who knew Lois loved her immensely.

Most importantly, Lois was a lifelong student of the Bible, dedicating her life at an early age to serving her Savior. She was a fine example of the Proverbs 31 woman and leaves a legacy of an entire family devoted to the Lord because of her teachings.

Lois was preceded in death by her husband Donald Ray Avery and parents F.J. (Faye) and Effie Collins.

She is survived by her children, Donna (Vernon) Wheeler, Bobby (LaNita) Avery, and Jimmy (Valerie) Avery; grandchildren, Nikki (Drew) Douglas, Nate (Kyna) Wheeler, Blake (Ashley) Wheeler, Jace Avery, Ben (Katy) Avery, Ellyn Avery (fiancé Brock Anders), Cole Avery, Brandon Avery, and Avery Avery; great grandchildren, Gage Wheeler, Sadie Wheeler, Lyla Douglas, Aubrey Douglas, Hayes Wheeler, and Collyns Wheeler. Brother, Jim Collins sister, Patsy Jackson-Christopher (Randy), brother-in-law, Dewayne (Pat) Avery and many nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers for the interment will be Nate Wheeler, Blake Wheeler, Drew Douglas, Brandon Avery, Cole Avery, Brock Anders, Jon Jackson, Mike Jackson, and Greg Jackson.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials be sent to the Whitharral Cemetery Fund c/o Larry & Paula Wade, 3631 N Barton Ln., Littlefield, TX 79339-7210.

Arrangements are under the direction and personal care of the professionals at Krestridge Funeral Home.  (806) 897-1111