Avis Eleanor Donahoo Petross
May 25, 1915 – March 27, 2017
Avis Petross, age 101, passed away in Stephenville, Texas, on Monday, March 27, 2017. Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m., Friday, March 31, at Davis-Morris Funeral Chapel in Brownwood, Texas. Burial will follow at Moro Cemetery near Blanket, Texas. Visitation will be Thursday, March 30, from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Davis-Morris.
Avis Eleanor Donahoo was born in Mercury, San Saba County, Texas, on May 25, 1915, to James Franklin and Texa Clementine (Matlock) Donahoo, and was the third of seven children. She began school in San Saba County before the family moved to Brown County when she was ten years old. She graduated from Early High School in 1933.
She married Cadmon Larche Petross on January 26, 1935, in Blanket, Texas, where they made their home for 49 years and raised five children. She was a homemaker and full-time partner in their farm and ranch business. After Cad passed away in 1984, she continued to live on the farm until the age of 90 when she moved to Stephenville to live with her daughter.
She was a member of the church of Christ, attending regularly in Stephenville and going back home to her Blanket congregation as much as possible. Active in the community and school as her children were growing up, she participated in the Blanket Home Demonstration Club, quilting clubs, and PTA. Her family was her passion being the matriarch of five generations. She especially enjoyed cookouts at the park, family dinners, vacations with the grandkids, and her birthday party the family has celebrated in large fashion for years. She was known for her cooking, sewing, and playing 42.
She is preceded in death by her parents, her entire generation of siblings and in-laws, husband, two sons, Larche Petross and Thomas Petross, infant daughter Melva Rae Petross, great-granddaughter Kayla, and great-great-granddaughters Jocelyn and Penelope.
She is survived by her son Gene Petross and his wife Joyce of Cleburne, her daughter Melinda Petross of Stephenville, her son Mark Petross and his wife Debra of Blanket, and daughter-in-law Keily Petross of Brownwood; grandchildren Yvonne & Pat Wisdom, Cathy & Andy Pennington, Jennifer Petross, Tammy & Matt Walker, Ashley & Stanley Crowder, April Petross, Audrey Petross, Amy Petross, Jerry & Shannon Petross, Marissa Davis, & Sheena & Mike Cross; great-grandchildren Kindi, Dani, Jacob, Lacy & Rylan, David, Ryker, Jess, Jodey, Lexi, Mason, Colin, Shayla, Carmen, Aleric, Autumn, Jerry, Ally, Weston, Cassidy, Austin, & Craig; and great-great-grandchildren Addison, Adriana, Saydi, Emori, Preston, Cayden, Kaine, Martin, & Levi.
Memorials may be made to the Blanket church of Christ @ P.O. Box 2, Blanket, Texas 76432, Foster’s Home in Stephenville, or a charity of choice.
