Avis V. Rayfield

Avis V. (Dyer) Rayfield, daughter of Joab and Gracie (Babcock) Dyer was born September 2, 1924 at Alley Springs, Missouri. She passed away Sunday, December 31, 2017 at the Mountain View Health Care in Mountain View, Missouri, making her age 93 years 3 months and 29 days.

Avis was united in marriage to Fredrick Gerald Riggins in March 1946. To their union 3 children were born, Marilyn Kay, Ronald Clarence and Frederick Joe. Widowed in 1959, Avis married Arco Peterson January, 1965, welcoming his children with open arms. Upon Arco’s death in 1988 Avis returned to her roots of Shannon County in 1990 to live closer to her sisters. In May of 1993 she married James Swiney Rayfield of Eminence, Missouri.

The two could be seen hiking, fishing and hunting around the area. They enjoyed traveling and getting close to nature. Avis loved flowers, collecting birdhouses and watching things grow.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her spouses, 3 brothers, Glen, William, and Shelby Dyer, along with sisters, Helen Eckler and Ruth Patterson.

Avis is survived by her children, Marilyn Riggins Gatrelle, Ron Riggins and wife Kay, Fred Riggins and wife Janet, 8 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren, sister Mabel Wilkins, many nieces and nephews, step children and step grandchildren from her marriage to Arco, Susanne (Rayfield) Chilton and her husband Dan, Jennifer Rayfield Hurt, and her dear friend and companion Robert Cox.

In lieu of flowers memorials maybe made to West Eminence Christian Church 17769 Hwy 106, Eminence, Missouri 65466.