Michael J. Avina, Sr.

Michael J. "Mike" Avina, Sr., age 67 of Temple, died Monday, December 1, 2014 at the Central Texas Veterans Hospital in Temple. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am Saturday, December 6, 2014 at Scanio-Harper Funeral Home with Carl Guthrie officiating. Burial, with military honors, will follow at Bellwood Memorial Park. The family will receive visitors from 5-7:00 pm Friday, December 5, 2014 at the funeral home. Mr. Avina was born on September 21, 1947 in Hutchinson, Kansas. His parents were Pedro Avina, Sr. and Jesusita Angel Jiminez Avina. He attended schools in Wellington, Kansas. Mike married Carol Dutschmann on August 12, 1967 in Waco, Texas. He was in the U.S. Army, serving in VietNam, and was honorably discharged in 1968 after 4 years service. Mike worked as a painter for the V.A. hospital and retired in 2004 after 28 years. He was a faithful Dallas Cowboys fan and enjoyed working on cars. Mike was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Margaret Perez. Survivors include his wife of 47 years, Carol Avina of Temple; a daughter, Tammy Beard and husband Matt of Temple; a son, Michael J. Avina, Jr. of Austin; a brother, Donnie Avina of Wellington, Kansas and a granddaughter, Heather Reaves of Temple. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given in Mike's name to First State Bank Central Texas, c/o Michael J. Avina, Jr. account.