Mary Thelma Arndt Tavis

Mary Thelma Arndt Tavis, daughter of David Daniel and Pearl (Smith) Arndt, was born April 12, 1922 in Alva, Oklahoma. She passed away at home in Chandler, Arizona on May 19, 2019. Thelma was 97 years, 1 month, and 7 days old.

Thelma graduated from Farry High School. She married her life-long partner, Cleo Ray Tavis on September 19, 1942. They went on to have one son and three daughters. In January 1957 Thelma, Cleo and family moved to Mesa, Arizona. They worked on a hog ranch near buckhorn in Apache Junction, Arizona. Upon selling the ranch, Thelma and her family moved into Mesa, where Thelma was a homemaker and devoted mother raising their four children. During the years, she would work outside the home at numerous jobs. As a mother, she was extremely talented as an artist, a master seamstress, and totally devoted to her family. She and Cleo were active in church lives as greeters, and being involved in several ministries. Thelma and Cleo were avid Phoenix Suns Basketball fans and Diamondback Baseball supporters.

Besides her parents, Thelma was preceded in death by her husband Cleo Ray Tavis, her son Cleo Leon Tavis, and eight siblings: Jennie Culver, Edna McOsker, Leroy Arndt, Grace Wolgamott, Laura Murphy, Arthur Arndt, Hazel Farney and Maynard Arndt.

Thelma is survived by three daughters: Mary Lynn Tavis Hansen of Chandler, with two sons, Johnny Hansen of Mesa, Arizona and Matthew Hansen, wife Colleen and their son Tyler, of Surprise, Arizona; Nancy Lea Tavis Butler and husband Tom of Peoria, Arizona with their three sons Terrance Butler and wife Norma of Surprise, Arizona, Trevor Butler and Frances Pratt of Glendale, Arizona, Thomas Butler, wife Ashley and their son Maxwell, in Peoria, Arizona; Joetta Pearl Tavis Coen and husband Bill of Chandler with two daughters and one son, Robert W. Coen of Tempe, Arizona, Tiffany Glazier, husband Earle and their two children, Cheyanne and Gavin of Gilbert, Arizona, Kara and Johnny Ellis with their son Landin Weller, from Chandler, Arizona, and daughter Jordan Ellis, of Scottsdale, Arizona. Thelma is also survived by her son Leon's children: Seth, Aaron, Leslie Ann and Kelly Jean and their children.

Funeral Services for Mary Thelma Arndt Tavis will be 11:00 am Friday, May 31, 2019 at Resthaven/Carr-Tenney Mortuary & Memorial Gardens, 4310 E. Southern Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona with Ken Collins, Hospice of the Valley Chaplain, officiating. Interment will immediately follow. There will be a visitation with the family at the location on Thursday, May 30, from 4:00-8:00 pm.