Avo Angeline Morris

Avo Angeline Morris was born on Wednesday, July 6, 1932 in Braggs, Oklahoma and passed away at the age of 87 on Thursday, January 30, 2020 in Hendersonville, Tennessee. She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul; her parents, Olive Mae and Henry Jones; and several siblings: brothers, Theron, Theodore, David, Luther, Homer; and sisters, LaFaye, and Mae. Avo is survived by her brother, Sherman Jones of Arlington, Texas and her sister Ruby Shelton of Beaverton, Oregon. Her sister, Ruth McCurdy of Edmond, Oklahoma passed away two days after Avo. Surviving children are Lorene Wingett, Steven Morris, Annita (Dean) Scroggins, and Kathy (Jimmy) Latimer; four grandchildren Garry, Janelle, Christina, and Victoria; and three great-grandchildren Nicholas, Lily, and Katelyn.

Avo was the ninth of thirteen children, eleven of who lived past infancy. She grew up working in the fields along with her family on the farm. Avo went to Byars High School in Byars, Oklahoma, where she gave the invocation at the junior/senior banquet. She was graduated from high school in 1950. The senior class that year consisted of nine students. A few years after high school, Avo moved to Oklahoma City where she rented a room in a boarding house (also occupied by two of her brothers) and worked in a candy factory, returning to the family farm on the weekends.

In 1958 Avo went to work for Swift and Company where she met her future husband Paul Jackson Morris, a widower with a young daughter, Lorene Frances. Avo finally agreed to go out with Paul after he asked her out repeatedly. They were married in October 1959. Avo left Swift's to become a dedicated wife and homemaker. Steven Paul was born in December 1960. After Paul was transferred to Sioux City, Iowa, two more children would follow: Annita Avo in 1962 and Kathy Marlene in 1963.

In 1969 Paul was transferred once again, this time to Nashville, Tennessee. Middle Tennessee became their final home. Avo continued to be a homemaker and supplemented the family income with childcare in the home. In 1977 Avo and Paul moved the family to Hendersonville, Tennessee. Once her children were in high school, Avo got a part-time job at Lina's, a local dress shop. A few years later when Lina's closed, Avo got another part-time retail job, this time at Target where she stayed for sixteen years.

Throughout the years, Avo and Paul were blessed with four grandchildren, Garry, Janelle, Christina, and Victoria; and three great-grandchildren, Nicholas, Lily, and Katelyn. Avo had a strong Christian upbringing and attended church faithfully throughout her life. She worked hard to instill the same Christian values in her family.

Avo spent her last years surrounded by her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She is sorely missed, but her family knows where she now resides: safe in the arms of the Savior who walked with her through the years.