Ava Mae Tollett

Ava Mae Buchi Tollett, of Corpus Christi, Texas, ascended to Heaven on Saturday, July 30, 2022, with family members at her side. She was 93 years of age.

Ava was born January 20,1929 in San Antonio, Texas to William and Laura Buchi. She graduated from Harlandale High School in 1946. She married her high school sweetheart, Tommy Tollett, in 1948 and was blessed with 5 children and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Ava & Tommy raised their children in Corpus Christi. They attended All Saints Episcopal Church, where Ava worked on the Altar Guild for many years. Then later in life, they joined St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church. Ava was involved in the Texas Corpus Christi Garden Club Council and helped prepare/stage for several Lola Forrester Flower Shows. She also was an artist involved in the South Texas Traditional Art Association and was close friends with her teacher, Frances Crane, an accomplished local artist of Corpus Christi. Ava played tennis at Corpus Christi Country Club and won numerous tournaments playing doubles. She enjoyed deep sea fishing and family outings in the CC Bay on their cabin cruiser boat Tommy named “Ava Mae”. She also was an excellent seamstress as well.

The couple chose to move back to San Antonio in order for Ava to help with her elder mother, Laura Buchi. Ava worked at the San Antonio Council on Alcoholism as office administrator and then counselor. She was awarded the A-B-C-D AWARD with great appreciation for work Above and Beyond the Call of Duty. While in San Antonio, the couple attended Christ Episcopal Church of San Antonio.

After her mother’s passing, Ava & Tommy moved to Leakey, Texas and lived on the Frio River. Ava loved Leakey and her life there. She quickly became involved in the community and joined the Big Springs Ranch for Children Auxiliary, which started a local thrift store to raise money for the Ranch. Ava also was a member of the Frio Canyon Garden Club and in charge of preserving history by scrapbooking each year. She volunteered at the local Real County Public Library and joined their Friends of the Library Association. The couple were members of Leakey United Methodist Church and supported the Leakey Eagles Booster Club.

Upon moving back to Corpus Christi in 2004, the couple became season ticket holders for the CC Hooks minor league baseball team. After her husband’s passing, Ava was one of the first residents of The Mirador Senior Living Community. She enjoyed her years there making new friends with days filled of constant activities and fun. Ava attended Grace Bible Church and services at the Mirador Coastal Bend Hall.

Ava was definitely a bright light for so many with her beautiful smile and uplifting spirit. She was extremely talented, creative, energetic, passionate, determined, competitive (especially at games), friendly and kind, however somewhat stubborn at times. She loved her family and they all felt her love. She was an incredible Mom. Being a follower of Christ was also important to her, and upon her passing, she had a cross on her bedside reading “Trust In The Lord With All Your Heart”.

Ava is preceded in death by her husband, John Thomas Tollett, Jr. (“Tommy”), her daughters Laura Kay Rose and Betty Jane Tollett, her grandson Jonathan Ward, her parents William and Laura Buchi, her brothers Floyd Buchi and John Buchi, and her sister Betty McDougall.

She is survived by 3 children and spouses: her daughter, Ava Everett and husband Craig, her son, John Thomas Tollett III (“Trey”) and wife Brenda, and her daughter, Mary Helen Lewis and husband Donald.

She is also survived by her grandchildren (and great grandchildren): Dylan Everett and wife Donise (Jacob, Addison, and Ethan), Leia Everett and partner Isaac Kinsey (Ida Rose), Michael Ward and wife Jessica Moreno (Robby), Daniel Ward, Katie Ward, Benjamin Ward, Jason Ward, Jennifer Stearns and husband Chris (Sadie and Thomas), John Thomas Tollett IV (“JT”) and wife Ashlee (Addy, Asher, Avery and Audrey), Jordan Parker and husband Bryan (Mae, Warren and Laura), Donald Lewis III, Ava Ashley and husband Price (Walter), John Thomas Tollett Lewis.

A memorial service is to be conducted at 1:30 PM, Saturday the 13th of August in the Chapel at Seaside Funeral Home, 4357 Ocean Drive Corpus Christi, TX 78412. Live streaming of the service and tribute video are available on Seaside Funeral Home website, wecare@seasidefuneral.com.

Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception (venue to be announced during the service).

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Ava’s memory may be directed to Big Springs Ranch for Children, 10664 US Highway 83 North, Leakey, TX 78873 https://youth-ranch.givingfuel.com/online-donations-to-hcyr or Friends of the Library Association/ Real County Public Library, PO Box 488 Leakey, TX 78873 http://www.leakeylibrary.org/

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.