Avis Marilyn Waldrop

Everybody’s favorite nurse, Avis Waldrop was as smart, tough and fun as they come. She died Sept. 8, 2025, in Abilene, Texas, at the age of 90.

Avis Marilyn Christopherson was born April 16, 1935, in Crookston, Minnesota, to Hjalmar and Thelma (Carlson) Christopherson. An only child, Avis’ early years were lived on a farm in Beltrami, Minnesota, where her father ran a grain elevator. She was doted on by aunts and uncles and spent many fun summers with Aunt Thyra and cousins in Pembina, North Dakota, where she loved crossing into Canada to get Cadbury chocolates.

At age four, Avis wanted badly to go to school, but she was too young. Her Aunt Alice taught her at home and when she started first grade, within a week she was promoted to second grade. She graduated from Mechanic Arts High School in 1952 and went straight to nursing school at Hamline University in Minnesota.

In 1949, Avis caught the eye of Don Waldrop. At 18, he joined the U.S. Navy as a submariner during the Korean War. They kept in touch through letters and ultimately married on Jan. 19, 1956, in St. Paul. They were married for 69 years.

In June of that year, Avis graduated from nursing school and the newlyweds moved to Searcy, Arkansas, where Don attended Harding College. Avis worked at a hospital next to the college.

Their first child, Annie (as Avis always called her), was born in 1958. Don graduated from Harding in 1959, and they moved to Poplar Bluff, Missouri. In 1961, the little family moved to Ely, Nevada, where they eventually adopted two children, Billy and Cindy. In 1965, they moved to Abilene and Jimmy was born a year later.

Avis worked at Hendrick Memorial Hospital from 1965 to 1978. She became the Director of Nursing Services at ACU in 1979, where she worked until retirement in 1993. During that time, she was a mother to countless college students who were "homeless” for the holidays. The family never knew who might show up for Thanksgiving, Christmas or just some random evening.

She was an accomplished seamstress, making all the girls’ clothes as they were growing up. She also loved decorating cakes, so all the kids and grandkids had special cakes.

Avis especially enjoyed traveling. Many family vacations included camping. After the kids were gone, Don and Avis traveled to Hawaii, Germany and Austria, Alaska, South Africa and Botswana. She also enjoyed watching the kids, grandkids and great grandkids in whatever activity they participated, whether sports, dance or music, etc.

Through a full life of friendships, church involvement and activities, along with the busyness of working full time and raising four kids, Avis beat cancer five times. During the last two bouts, with her nursing knowledge and toughness, she chose quality of life, approaching cancer on her own terms.

Avis was full of life, always had a bright smile and a word of wit or wisdom. She was fun to be around, loved telling stories and made everyone feel like part of the family. She will be greatly missed.

Avis is survived by her husband, Don; four children: Ann Fincher and husband Kyle; Billy Waldrop; Cindy Packwood and husband Randy; and Jimmy Waldrop and wife Denise; five grandchildren Jayden Packwood, Jerron Packwood, Kenny Waldrop, Abbie Waldrop and Desi Milliorn; and 12 great grandchildren.

Inurnment will take place in a private family ceremony at the Texas State Veteran’s Cemetery in Abilene on Thursday, Oct. 16, followed at 11 a.m. by a celebration of life at Remington Ridge Church of Christ, 138 Remington Rd. The family will receive friends before and after the service.