Avis James

Avis LaVone James, 87, of Osceola died Monday, Sept. 19, 2016, at Southern Hills Specialty Care in Osceola.

Services were held 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 23, at St. Bernard Catholic Church with the Rev. Dave Polich officiating. Visitation with family present was from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 22, at Kale Funeral Home, 301 S. Main St., in Osceola. A Rosary followed at 8 p.m. Interment was in Gregg Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be directed to the family for a fitting tribute to be decided later. Online condolences may be left at www.kalefuneralhome.com.

Avis LaVone James, daughter of Floyd George Reasoner and Gladys (Long) Reasoner, was born Jan. 25, 1929, in Union County. Avis graduated from high school and received her teaching certificate. She taught country schools for a couple of years.

On March 18, 1949, she married John Allen James at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Osceola. Avis lived in Doyle Township in rural Clarke County. She moved to Osceola in the fall of 1991 and resided there until she moved to supported living.

Avis was a member of St. Patrick’s and St. Bernard’s Catholic Churches. She was a Pink Lady at the Clarke County Hospital, active with Hopeville Ladies Aid, member of “The Maiden Heads,” the neighborhood card club, and Grand River American Legion Auxiliary. Avis volunteered at the local grade school and St. Bernard’s religious education.

Avis is survived by her children, Mary Bonnett of Indianola, John James of Carson City, California, Joyce Janelle (Richard) Egan of Dover, Tennessee, Carol Haendler of Cedar Rapids, George (Mary) James of Grand River and Sara James of San Francisco, California; grandchildren, Justin (Sarah) Egan, Ryan Bonnett, Angela Bonnett, Jessica (Nathan) Massell, Courtney James, Shawnee Haendler, Jared (Jentry) James and Jason James; great-grandchildren, Blaine Birmingham, Aliaha Birmingham, Jayda Birmingham, Faith Egan, Caleb Egan, Hanna Egan, Kaeden James and Kinsley James; brothers, John Reasoner, Don (Delores) Reasoner and Keith Reasoner; sisters-in-law, Judy James, Marie Jones, June James and Maggie (Margaret) Darr; as well as other relatives and many friends.

Avis was preceded in death by her parents; husband John Allen James; siblings, Dale and Bonnie Reasoner, Olin and LaVice Reasoner, Robert Reasoner and Frankie Reasoner Cocran, Francis Reasoner, DonnaLee Reasoner, Bernard and Ilene James, Betty and Gene Seiver, Ruth and Dan Reed, Jim Jones, Phil James, Robert Darr, Teresa Boles and Richard James.