Alice Avila Azevedo

Alice Avila Azevedo, 92, passed away peacefully at Adventist Medical Center on Saturday, May 17, 2014. Alice was born on March 13, 1922 to Olivo and Margarite (Costa) Avila in Arcata, Humboldt County, California. Her family later moved to Tulare County where she attended Laurel School and Tulare High School. Growing up, she loved to dance, play instruments and sing, frequently singing on the Casey Santos’ Pisca, Pisca radio program. In 1947, she married Anthony (Tony) Rico Pimentel. Their first born son, Stan, was born in 1948 and then little Tony was born in 1951. After Anthony passed away from leukemia in 1953, she went to college and learned the necessary skills to become a legal secretary to support her boys. In 1958 she married her second husband, Emerick Carl Azevedo, who adopted her two sons as his own. The new family built a home in the little community of Hardwick. She and Emerick enjoyed square dancing and were members of the Square Eights Hall in Hanford. Alice worked for Attorney Bill Dunn, Kings County Courts, and served as a church secretary for both Koinonia Christian Fellowship and Lemoore Christian Fellowship. She loved photography and to travel and has hundreds of slides and photos of the places she visited.

In 1971, son Tony’s death in an industrial Ag accident drove Alice into a deep depression. Loving friends told her about having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Becoming born again in 1973 transformed her life. The desire to tell family, friends, and anyone who would listen about Jesus became her passion for the rest of her life. She went on several missions trips, served in the Kings County Jail Ministry, and volunteered at several convalescent homes. Her life touched many people, and many will be going to heaven because she definitely was not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Alice was preceded in death by her parents, her husbands, son Tony Azevedo and her brother Olivo Avila.

Alice is survived by her brothers, Joe (Jane) Avila of Tulare, Alban (Ellen) Avila of Visalia, Frank (Rose) Avila of Tracy; sisters-in-law, Marilyn Avila of Oregon, Adeline (Ron) Nelson of Selma, Betty (Henry) Pimentel of Tulare; son, Stan (Elaine) Azevedo of Hanford; granddaughter, Michelle (Greg) Maciel and their son, Chandler; grandson, Rob Azevedo and his children, Cody, Zackary and Holly; grandson, Greg (Martha) Azevedo and their children, Stratton, Briggs and Allison all of Hanford; and daughter-in-law, Maureen Azevedo of Lemoore and grandson (Tony & Maureen’s son), Tony (Amie) and their children, Todd, Lee, Connor and Anslie, all of Lemoore; “adopted family” Bob and Angelina Kelly and their children: numerous cousins, nephews, nieces, dear friends and neighbors.

A Celebration of Alice’s Life will be held on Wednesday, May 28, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at Koinonia Christian Fellowship Church; 12536 Hanford-Armona Road, Hanford, CA 93230 559-772-1680.

In lieu of flowers, please feel free to honor Alice with a donation to the Crossroads Pregnancy Center; 206 W. Lacey Blvd. #A, Hanford, CA 93230; Jail Ministry, c/o Koinonia Christian Fellowship; P.O. Box 1378, Hanford, CA 93232; Koinonia Missions Outreach; P.O. Box 1378, Hanford, CA 93232; or a charity of your choice.