Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.”

Proverbs 31.

This describes the special life of Avis Lee Hayes Perello. Born nearly 83 years ago on leap year, February 29, 1932, on a farm in Mitchell, Louisiana, Avis was one of two girls in a family of nine siblings. She was known by her brothers to be competitive and tough – beating them all in cotton-picking season, and kicking the stubborn farm mule. A good student in a one-room school, she liked to read, but preferred sports, becoming a formidable basketball player in spite of her father Zollie’s disdain of the immodest uniforms. Independent and resourceful she left farm life to go out on her own in the bigger town of Shreveport to attend business school.

She moved to Beaumont in the early 50’s and met our Dad-to-be, and started her journey as wife, mother and friend.

We have to start with the cooking. Oh my god, the cooking! Mom was an avid cook. It was simply her nature to serve and enjoy good food. She was quite noted for her delicious recipes, always saying “Y’all ‘bout ready to eat?” Our kitchen never got a break. The quick desserts to the 5–8 course meals, never-ending through the years. We are definitely going to miss it.  Food is love.

Mom served her community and church well and often, from the Meals on Wheels program to countless charity fundraising and volunteering. Her other passions were games and sports. From her life in school basketball she was a competitor. She challenged herself at everything she did and won much of the time.  She had a long life of extraordinarily good health and was strong - from mowing and tilling her lawn until recently, to being the last person to sit down. The stamina showed up in her gardening, rooted in her time on the family farm until her last summer garden. Such a harvester! Canning all vegetables and assortments of jellies and jams, a lost art she never tired of.

Our mom was not loud, but if flowers could sing she would have had a choir, from vines to annuals, to her spring returns, her small space on earth was ever so beautiful. Roses were her favorite.

Our Dad, bless his soul. He loved her much and she well kept him through his illnesses, his large personality, and desire of her attention -the devotion of 50 married years.

Mom’s love was something not expressed, as much as it was felt. The constant reassuring that things will work out, always having our back, from working with us on our homework as kids, and being there during our most meaningful times as adults, we thought of her as doctor, teacher, friend, and sometimes a switcher (Ouch!). But most of all, we believe now that mom was an earth angel, blessing us every day with her true and unconditional love.

Traveling was also a real love of hers, and she was well-traveled, from pulling the family camper in the seventies to going to Ireland a year ago. Dad and she spent several years seeing the U.S., and later trips to Europe with her youngest daughter, Gay, we believe, kept her open minded and gave her a deep understanding of the world.

After retiring, Mom found her biggest passion, outside of her family, in the sport of bowling, (you could say it took all her “spare” time), playing three times a week in multiple leagues and national conferences, always striving for the perfect game, and falling into a beloved sisterhood in the alleys of Beaumont and beyond.

Avis had a love for current events and loved lively conversation about political issues of the day, especially with her beloved sister-in-law Rosa. She was born and raised in faith, was a devoted member of the Methodist Church, and instilled spiritual values in her children.  She was the true meaning of Christianity, exemplifying the values of Jesus – kindness, compassion and tolerance. And her faith is what sustained her in her brave battle against cancer.  Her final prayer…

Our Father Who Art In Heaven.

She was a loving, selfless, competitive, adventurous mother, wife and friend.

Survivors include her children, Hope Perello and her husband, Billy Kelly, of Los Angeles, California; Kyle Perello and his wife, Tina Perello, of Frisco; Joy Perello Carter and her husband, Bruce Carter, of Rowlett; and Gay Perello of Los Angeles, California; grandchildren, Jaclyn McMillan, Sophia Kelly, Hallie Carter; and Carmen Perello; brothers and sisters, Alton Hayes of Idaho Falls; Travis Hayes of Bossier City, Louisiana; and Huey Hayes of Mitchell, Louisiana.

She is preceded in death by her parents; two sons, Keith Perello and Michael Perello; and six brothers and sisters, William Britt, Marjorie Britt Ott, Laura Lee Britt Litton, Leamon Britt, and Newell Britt.

A gathering of Mrs. Perello’s family and friends will be from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., Friday, February 27, 2015, at Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont. Her funeral service will be at 4:00 p.m., Saturday, February 28, 2015, at Broussard’s, with interment to follow at Magnolia Cemetery, Beaumont.