Avis H. Born March 4, 1921 in Dallas, Texas to Hervy and Bertie Huffstutler, passed away September 27, 2018 at the age of 97. Avis graduated from Maypearl High School, then St. Paul School of Nursing becoming a Registered Nurse (RN) in November 1941. Avis applied her newly accredited skills helping the WWII effort as an industrial nurse for Lockheed located at Love Field in Dallas, Texas where she met and married James Lowell Sylvester. After WWII, Avis took a break from nursing to raise a family of three children, Peggy, Richard and Georgia.
After nineteen years, Avis returned to nursing at St Paul Hospital in Dallas in the department of Inservice Education where she trained nurse aides. Avis also resumed her education receiving a B.S. from the UT School of Allied Health, then M.Ed from NTSU and several post graduate courses when she toyed with the idea of seeking a doctorate.
In response to a preventable fatality, Avis used her position at St Paul to create a program to train CPR to hospital personnel, which was at the time groundbreaking. She expanded the program to non hospital employees buying CPR mannequins with her own funds and volunteered countless hours training wherever she could form a group.
After 22 years of service at St Paul Hospital she retired as the Director of the Education Department and ceased her higher education efforts to devote the remainder of her life to charitable activities, gardening, exercise and needlework. Avis was very active in her beloved St. Paul’s Auxiliary generating funds for hospital projects and scholarship awards. Blossoms from her garden became center pieces for table settings at awards banquets and Auxiliary functions. Ever active, Avis jogged and became certified to teach Body Recall exercise where she did so at the Lovers Lane United Methodist Church for many years. Avis also combined her charitable activities with her needlework hobby by actively participating in the church’s Sew N’ Sew and Needlers groups to make quilts sold to promote church activities.
Avis additionally served as president of the Texas Society of Hospital Educators of the Texas Hospital Association and was actively involved with the American Diabetic Association, the American Heart Association and the St. Paul School of Nursing Alumnae. Those that survive her were in awe of her energy, charity and positive attitude.
A memorial service will be held Sunday October 21, 2018 at 2:00pm at the Lovers Lane United Methodist Church in the Wesley Chapel.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared with the Sylvester family by signing the guest book.
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