Guillermo Evaristo Avila (Memo) Went home to be with the Lord on February 4 at the age of 87. Devoted Father and Grandfather, a True Gentleman and a Man of God. He was born November 6, 1929 to Evaristo and Carmen Avila. He is survived by his wife Isabel Lightbourn Avila, his four children; Bill (Carol), Andy, Annette Chavez (Roldan) and Amanda Ward (Matthew). His grandchildren; James, Thomas, Kristina, Roldan, Anthony and Lucas and his one sister Estela Sperbeck. A lifelong El Pasoan he attended Morehead Elementary, Lamar Elementary and El Paso Junior High. He spoke no English when he started school but graduated at the age of 17 as the valedictorian from El Paso Technical High School. He then attended Texas College of Mines. He began working at the age of 12 at his father's grocery store as a delivery boy and butcher, leading to his lifelong disdain of eating chicken. In 1952, he went in to the restaurant business buying Leo's downtown location, from his Uncles, Leo Collins and Willie Terrazas. Memo learned how to cook and his Dad ran the front of the house. At the start they served a $0.65 Merchants Lunch daily. He married the love of his life Isabel Lightbourn on November 14, 1953. They celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary this past November. He and his Dad moved the restaurant to the Coronado Shopping Center in 1962. He built his own restaurant at 6232 North Mesa in 1972. He changed the name from Leo's to Avila's Mexican Food in 1988 and his son Bill opened an Eastside location. The original location is still run today by Andy and Annette. In order to support his growing family they purchased an apartment building, a trailer park, a chili processing business and multiple other pieces of real estate through the years. He started in the self-storage business with Rio Mesa Self Storage in 1991. The restaurant business was his passion. He was a businessman always, even at the very end worrying about his employees, writing checks and making deposits. We often joked that he would wear a white shirt and tie to mow the lawn. He served as a board member and the President of the El Paso Restaurant Association. He was also on the Texas Restaurant Association State Board. He was inducted into the TRA Hall of Honors and was honored as the Outstanding Restauranteur of the Year in 1980. He began playing golf at the age of 42 and was still playing at age 80. He had many golf buddies and he cherished his time spent with you. He spent many years motor homing with the "Metiches". Memo was very involved in the community. He always said "Give back to the community. it has been good to us." He was a member of the National Guard from 1948-1956 and the Jaycee's. He served on the Boards of the Pan American Savings and Loan, the American Heart Association , Renaissance 400, the El Paso Chamber of Commerce, the El Paso Community Foundation, and was a founding member of the Santa Teresa Country Club. He was a man of God, a longtime member of St. Matthew Catholic Church. We would like to thank Dr. Portillo and Jaime, Dr. Michael Annabi and the staff of El Paso Hospice for his excellent care. Visitation from 5-7 at St. Matthew Catholic Church a Rosary to follow at 7 on Wednesday February 8th. Funeral service will be held at St. Matthew Catholic Church at 11:30 on Thursday February 9th. Burial at Memory Gardens of the Valley in Santa Teresa following the service. In Lieu of flowers, please send donations in his name to St. Matthew Catholic Church at 400 W. Sunset Road or the International Museum of Art at 1200 Montana in El Paso, Texas. www.martinfuneralhomewest.com
Published in El Paso Times from Feb. 6 to Feb. 13, 2017
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