Lily Mae Avant

Lily Mae Avant, our sweet and sassy girl, graced this world with her presence on Thursday, November 13, 2008 in Fort Worth, Texas. Lily was a born fighter, but she overcame those challenges and grew into a beautiful light that we have all come to love. She earned her angel wings, surrounded by her family, when she left her Earthly home to be with Jesus, completely healed, on Sunday, September 15, 2019.

Lily’s celebration of life is planned for Friday, September 20, 2019 at 1:00pm at the Open Range Cowboy Church in Whitney, Texas for all her family and friends, and everyone is encouraged to dress casual and wear blue. A private graveside service will follow for family only.

Lily wasn’t just your average 10-year-old child. The last week of her life was a true testament of the extraordinary young lady that she was and the tremendous impact she had on people. Her contagious smile and infectious laugh could turn even the darkest day bright. Her educators and peers described her as a “friend to everyone” and someone who “never knew a stranger”. Many also commented how “respectful and well-mannered she was” and was “the kind of kid you were naturally drawn to”.  When Lily wasn’t busy making her school or community a better place, you would find her chasing her chickens or baiting a hook to go fishing. Her love of all God’s creatures and the outdoors was a big part of who she was as a person.  It should come as no surprise in this family that she was also a foodie and shared in the family love for cooking and family togetherness. In times where she couldn’t be outdoors loving on all of her animals, she spent her time crafting and creating while listening to music. She might not have been able to carry a tune in a bucket, but that didn’t stop her from singing at the top of her lungs, especially during her shower karaoke sessions!

She had the prettiest fiery red hair and biggest, beautiful brown eyes outlined by the most perfect eyebrows you’ve ever seen. Lily was one of many kids in a very large family. She was born with a nurturing nature, which she must have inherited from her momma, and was often seen carrying around a baby on her hip. She loved the littles in the same loving, motherly manner she had always been shown. She was a tender and caring soul, but our baby girl was quite the jokester. Dad and Lily were constantly pranking one another and it became a competition of seeing who could scare who next. This inevitably kept you on your toes when in her presence.

In her final days, Lily Mae fought a good fight and built an Army of prayer warriors around the world. Our little global girl had this Earth rumbling the gates of Heaven with praise and worship as we raised a Hallelujah in unison! Once word got out her light spread across the world at an unfathomable speed. Our news and social media platforms were filled with love, hope, prayer and unity. It was as if her sweet soul unified a divided nation and echoed across the globe. In true Lily fashion. We are mourning her absence here in the flesh but celebrate her victory in eternity, knowing that we will see her again someday.  Until that day comes, we will cherish the memories, and will continue loving her BIGGER than Poppa’s trees and FARTHER than Heaven and back. In the words of her parents, “Lily brought us all together and that’s how we will stay.”

Our prayer to honor her memory is that we all remain united.

We are not just strong; we are #LilyStrong.

Pallbearers include Tony Avant, Brandon McMains, Shane Box, John Todd Avant, Dustin Yadon, Nathan Foote, Jim Crawson, David Sproles, Carl Sproles, Brandon Huber, Will Cockerham & Scott Knight.  Honorary Pallbearer: John Carter Crawson.

She was preceded in death by great-grandparents, Sam and Mamie Alexander; great-grandmas, Darlene Pierce and Gloria Sproles; great-grandpa, James Kelley; great-grandparents, Lee and Mary Evans; great-grandparents, John and Virginia Crawson; and a few aunts and uncles.

Survivors include her mother, Laci and father, John, “Other Daddy” Jillian; brother, John Carter and sisters, Jordan and Teagan; maternal grandparents, Peri, Dennis and Cathy; paternal grandparents, Lesha, Chris, and Buster; great-grandparents, Pawpaw and Mert; great aunt, Toni; aunts and uncles, Raci and Dustin and their 3 children, Tony and Krystal and their 4 children, Shane and Carla and their 3 children, Brandon, Michelle and Julia Ryan, Jim and Vicki, Christopher and Jeni and their 2 children, David and Shalisa and family, Janika, Webb and David Marie, Mark and Tonda and family, Linda and family, Beary Kelly and family, Mindy Wangler, and Rebecca Crawson; and an army of bonus grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, soldiers, and friends that became family.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to First Bank Whitney, First National Bank of Bosque Co, - Valley Mills, or Venmo @LilyLaciJohn.