Cora Avo Austin was born May 1, 1915 to Lula Belle Gaines Austin and John Wesley Austin in Peel, Arkansas. She married Hyrum Vernon Chappelle December 10, 1936 in Jasper, Arkansas.

Avo and Vernon lived in Richland from 1948 until Vernon's death in 1988. She continued to live in the family home until 2001. Due to declining health, she moved to assisted living in Hawthorne Court, Kennewick, Washington from June 2001 until her hospitalization in November 2003 and subsequent death in Hospice on November 28, 2003. Our family appreciated the care she received in Hawthorne. We will be forever grateful for her Hospice care.

Avo worked in a doctor's office in her youth in Arkansas, for Lockheed Aircraft in the San Fernando Valley of California as a riveter in the war effort, and later at Kadlec Hospital in Richland as a dietician’s assistant. She retired from Kadlec in 1973.

Vernon and Avo were long standing members in Richland wards of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

She is survived by her sister Dorothy Wade; brother William Austin; son Howard R. Chappelle and wife Denice; daughter Vernona Cathryn Hodgin and husband, Don R. Hodgin; granddaughters Cathy L. Adkisson and husband Doug, Tami A. Tayamen and husband Steven D., Brenda L. Bergstrom and husband John Caldwell, Vikki J. Ballew and husband Robert A., Jennifer B. Scalley and husband David, Teri Hodgin-Nelsen, and Kelly Hodgin-McKinney. Cora is also survived by her great grandchildren Kristen N. Couch, Kelsey A. Couch, Kelsey L. Adkisson, Lindsey M. Adkisson, Hailey A. Adkisson, Gina L. Tayamen, John C. Tayamen, Haylee C. Tayamen, Joshua V. Tayamen, Donald H. Ballew, Griffin R. Scalley, Hanna R. Scalley, Lydia J. Caldwell, Ian G. Caldwell and Tyce Hodgin.

She is preceded in death by her beloved husband Vernon, parents Wes and Lula Austin, and siblings Eslie Sommers, Hazel Young, Leonard Austin, and Lester Austin.

Our mother was a cultivator. She loved her family, friends, flowers, and nature. She nurtured and was loved in return by her husband, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, friends, neighbors and acquaintances. We will treasure her memory.

A funeral service will be held on Monday, December 1, 2003, at 9:00 a.m. at Einan’s Funeral Home in Richland. Visitation will be held on Sunday from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at Einan’s Funeral Home. A short grave dedication will take place at Sunset Memorial Gardens after the funeral service. The family would like you to join them after the service at Shilo Inn, in Richland for a reception.

Please make any contributions to the Tri-Cities Chaplaincy Hospice House, 2108 W. Entiat Ave., Kennewick, WA 99336. They provide a special kind of care for the persons with a terminal illness, their families, and caregivers. Hospice was a source of comfort to our mother and us. Thank you also to her loyal physician, Stuart V. Freeman and his staff.