Description/Transcription
Obituary of Dr. Jake Avis, Jr.
(C. Avis Catalog entry #137)
(Document ID #498)
Austin Statesman
Austin, Texas
p. 2
Wednesday, Feb. 22,1961
Avis Rites To Be Held Thursday
Funeral services for Dr. Jake Avis Jr., who died Tuesday afternoon of a gunshot wound, will be held Thursday at 11 a. m. at Weed-Corley Funeral Home.
Dr. William Logan will officiate and burial will be in Austin Memorial Park.
A coroner's verdict was awaited Wednesday from Justice of the Peace J. H. Watson in the death of the 39-year-old dentist.
The well-known dentist died in Brackenridge Hospital's emergency room just 20 minutes after being rushed there Tuesday at 1:15 p.m. with a gunshot wound in his chest.
Two painters working across the street said they were listening to their car radio before going back to work after lunch when they heard someone yelling at the front door of the Avis home at 1510 Rainbow Bend.
The painters, A. G. Wadford of 1201 Newton Road and A. P. Childers of 4608 Lyons Road, said Dr. Avis frantically motioned to them.
They raced across the street and found Avis wounded, according to statements given detective Lieutenant Merle Wells and detective Sergeant Ed Tramp. Wad-ford quoted Dr. Avis as saying he had shot himself accidentally. An ambulance rushed Dr. Avis to the hospital, but he died soon after reaching there.
A gun closet was open in the living room of the Avis home, Lt. Wells, Sgt. Tramp and Patrolman Edward Silvanage reported. The death weapon, a .22 caliber rifle, was lying in front of the closet, which contained several other weapons.
Dr. Avis attended the University of Texas and Texas A&M College and was graduated from the University of Texas Dental School. He practiced dentistry here the last 10 years. During World War II he served in the Marine Corps.
He was a member of the Board of Deacons of the University Presbyterian Church and a member of the Travis County Dental Society, having served as its vice president.
Survivors include his widow; two sons, David Martin Avis and Charles Chiles Avis; and his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jake Avis Sr., all of Austin.