Dorothy Bernice Avara, age 87, died Friday, June 6, 2014 at Grace Care Center in Olney, Texas. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Monday, June 9, 2014, in the chapel of Lunn Funeral Home in Olney with Chad Edgington, pastor of First Baptist Church, officiating, assisted by Bill Little. Interment will follow in Restland Cemetery in Olney, Texas. Arrangements are under the direction of Lunn Funeral Home of Olney.

Bernice was born February 13, 1927 in Olney, Texas to the late Thomas Hardley and Leona Bell (West) Sutton. She was a lifetime resident of Olney and graduated from Olney High School. She married Joel G. Avara on December 6, 1945 in Archer City. He preceded her in death on June 18, 1982. She was employed with Hamilton Hospital for over twenty-five years as the Insurance Administrator. Bernice was a faithful member of First Baptist Church of Olney and had devoted many years serving with the "Pink Ladies" with the Hamilton Hospital Auxiliary.

Bernice was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Joel Avara; one son, Sammy Avara; one daughter, Judy Gail Archer; two brothers, Paul Sutton and Leonard Sutton; and one sister, Leola Garner.

Bernice is survived by her two sisters: Francis Black and husband Nat of Olney and Joyce Goldsmith and husband Johnie of Olney; two grandchildren: Russ Kirby and wife Susan of Schertz, Texas and Brandon Woods and wife Danielle of Jacksonville, Florida; five great-grandchildren, and five great-great-grandchildren.

Family visitation will be Sunday, June 8, 2014 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

The family suggests memorials be made to First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 734, Olney, Texas 76374, or to Hamilton Hospital Foundation, P.O. Box 158, Olney, Texas 76374.

Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.lunnfuneralhome.com.