She was born Sept. 20, 1929, in Fort Worth and graduated from R.L. Paschal High School in 1947. Raised in a music-loving family, Avis, the youngest of nine children, was known for decades for her beautiful voice. She grew up in Travis Avenue Baptist Church and joined her husband at Hemphill Presbyterian Church after her children were born.
She had been a member of University Baptist Church since 2005. She worked at General Dynamics for 19 years, leaving to become a full-time mother and a part-time employee at her husband's family business, Backus Laundry and Dry Cleaning.
Avis was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Harry Backus; her parents, Elmer and Ila Gunter; sisters, Ellen Jayroe, Frances Baldridge, Sue Mason, Gertrude Cole and Nancy Stages; and brothers, George Gunter, Myrle Gunter and Bill Gunter.
Survivors: Daughter, Beverly McCarthy Williams and husband, Gary; son, Bryan Backus and wife, Tammie; grandchildren, Mark McCarthy and Bailey Backus; numerous nieces and nephews, to whom she was always their "favorite aunt"; and dozens of church and bridge group friends.
Published in Star-Telegram on February 9, 2011
She was born Sept. 20, 1929, in Fort Worth and graduated from R.L. Paschal High School in 1947. Raised in a music-loving family, Avis, the youngest of nine children, was known for decades for her beautiful voice. She grew up in Travis Avenue Baptist Church and joined her husband at Hemphill Presbyterian Church after her children were born.
She had been a member of University Baptist Church since 2005. She worked at General Dynamics for 19 years, leaving to become a full-time mother and a part-time employee at her husband's family business, Backus Laundry and Dry Cleaning.
Avis was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Harry Backus; her parents, Elmer and Ila Gunter; sisters, Ellen Jayroe, Frances Baldridge, Sue Mason, Gertrude Cole and Nancy Stages; and brothers, George Gunter, Myrle Gunter and Bill Gunter.
Survivors: Daughter, Beverly McCarthy Williams and husband, Gary; son, Bryan Backus and wife, Tammie; grandchildren, Mark McCarthy and Bailey Backus; numerous nieces and nephews, to whom she was always their "favorite aunt"; and dozens of church and bridge group friends.
Published in Star-Telegram on February 9, 2011
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