An Ava High School graduate Mavis Waggoner McAvoy, of Salisbury, Md., formerly of Prince George County, Md., passed away Monday, Jan. 14, 2008 at Salisbury Genesis Elder Care. She was born Nov. 22, 1922 in Lawrence County, Mo., the first of eight children born to Turrell William Waggoner and Bessie Means Waggoner.
She graduated from Ava High School in 1940. Her dream was to teach in a rural school in Douglas County. While pursuing this dream, her Aunt Nellie Chaney encouraged her to move to Washington, D.C., stay with her and her family, and seek employment. Soon after arriving in Washington, she began modeling for the large department stores in the city. She was employed for several years at the Department of Agriculture.
On Nov. 8, 1945, she married Horace Michael McAvoy. Together, they owned and operated the Pfaff Sewing Machine business in Washington for many years. Two daughters were born to this union.
She had been a real estate agent, most recently with Century 21 Harbour Realty in Salisbury, Md.
She is survived by her daughters and their spouses, Pat and Jim Waggoner, of Berlin, Md., and Lynn and Dick Shaner of Huntington, Md.; eight grandchildren, Patrick Hawley, Sean Hawley, Erin Lokey, Kate Estep, Michael Masters, Emily Waggoner, Jillian Shaner, and Matthew Waggoner; and 10 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by three sisters, Frances Roelke of Knoxville, Md., Lois Moore, of Ledyard, Conn., and Mary Kreisvelt, of Tulsa, Okla.; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Horace McAvoy; her brothers, Jack, Sam, and Bill; her sister, Ruth Joan Gibson; and a nephew, Reginald King, who was killed in Vietnam, Feb. 14, 1969.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.
