Ada Lee Tavel

Ada Lee Curts Tavel, 94, of Warrior, Ala., died October 3, 2017 after a brief illness. Ada Lee was born September 16, 1923 in Leavenworth, Ind., to Ollie and Amelia Curts. In 1941, she met and married the love of her life, Charles Ellis Tavel, when he was part of the construction detail building the US Navy installation at Crane, Ind. During WWII, Ada Lee made powder bags at Indiana Ordnance Works Plant #1. After Ellis’s return from service in the South Pacific, they settled in Blount County Ala., where they ran Tavel Farm, a well-known commercial farming enterprise and popular strawberry and tomato U-Pick venue, until his retirement. For many years, she was active in the Alabama Farmers Federation, holding several offices, and she and Ellis enjoyed the friendships they made through that organization. In addition to being a farm wife, Ada Lee had a long career with the U.S. Postal Service in Birmingham, Ala.

Family and friends will remember Ada Lee for her quick wit, Southern hospitality, competitive spirit at cards and Scrabble and her strong sense of style. She loved to tell stories for her grandchildren and others and invented numerous adventures for characters Goop and Oscar, much to their delight. She collected many things: chickens, shoes, cook books, and most notably, friends.

She is survived by two daughters, Judith Tavel Parr (John) of Auburn Ala., and Marrita Sue Tavel Sanford (Robert) of Warrior Ala.; grandchildren Dara Parr Hosey (Mike) of Auburn, Johna Parr Lawrence (Mike) of Warrior, Bryan Sanford (Danette) of Helena AL and Matthew Sanford (Valerie) of Auburn; great grandchildren Duncan Lawrence of Birmingham; Michaela, Miriam and Connor Lawrence of Warrior; Cadence Kloss of Auburn; Austin and Greyson Sanford of Helena; sister, Frances Curts Mathes of Corydon Ind.; nephew, Richard Walker of Auburn; niece, Stephanie Walker of Birmingham.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Charles Ellis Tavel, and her sister Christine Curts.

Services will be held at Ridout’s Gardendale Chapel, Gardendale, AL on Saturday, October 7, 2017, with a visitation to begin at 10:00am; funeral service at 11:00am followed by her burial in Stewart’s Chapel United Methodist Church Cemetery in Warrior, Alabama. In Lieu of flowers donations may be made in her honor to the Stewart's Chapel Cemetery Care Fund, sent to the Stewart's Chapel Cemetery Association, 690 Tavel Road, Warrior, AL 35180.

Arrangements under the direction of Ridout's Gardendale Chapel, Gardendale, AL.