Mavis Colleen Houck

Mavis Colleen Houck born in Alma, Arkansas in August of 1929 passed on February 17, 2020 of natural causes at the age of 90 in Tulare California. Wife to Bob Houck, Born in November of 1924 passed on 7/26/2015 and Daughter to Gertrude Fogal. Mavis spent her younger years with her grandparents on a farm in Maberry, Arkansas during the depression years, she said because they lived on a farm they always had enough to eat and her Grandparents would always help passing travelers. Her mother Gertrude had traveled west in search of work and found a Job at Tagus Ranch. Mavis was around 7 years old and traveled alone by train when she came to Tulare California to be with her mom. She met Bob, the love of her life in the Sweet Shop that she worked at in Tulare, Dad said he loved her sandwiches. They married on Dec in 1946. She said the court had to call her mother for permission since she was only 17 at the time. She was married in Las Vegas, and always loved returning to Las Vegas since she had so many wonderful memories there. She spent her younger years raising her family, volunteering at church and school functions for her children. She was very proud that she served on the local Ronald Regan presidential campaign and received a signed letter for her contribution. In her later years she ran her own business, Downtown News and Video, this is where she became known as the "Balloon Lady" because she was the first place in town to sell balloons bouquets. She loved to work her balloon counter and be around people, she worked almost every day of the week until she was 83 years old. For fun, they enjoyed going to the lake to go boating and water skiing. Her and Bob's favorite lake was Shaver Lake. The quality she was most proud of was the fact that she always made time for her children and made holidays special for them. She was a patriot, loved her country, always voted and was never afraid to speak up for what was right or wrong. One day in front of her store she caught a man trying to steal a boy's cans that he had left on his bike while shopping, she proceeded to the sidewalk to tell the would-be thief to drop the cans! This is who she was and how we will always remember her. She will be deeply missed by her surviving relatives, Daughters Carol Atwater, Kim Milling, Becky Houck and Son, Rob Houck, along with her 4 grandchildren, Kevin Westbrook, Mellissa Hefel, Clay Milling, and Mark Milling soon there will be a 5th and 4 great-grandchildren. Tributes and Condolences may be made at www.forevermissed.com/mavis-colleen-houck