Henry Avelar, a beloved pillar of his family, regretfully passed away as a result of complications during his COVID19 recovery.

Henry is survived by his wife Grace Avelar and children Enrique Avelar Jr., Isaac Henry Avelar, Ezekiel Henry Avelar, Jaclyn Ruth Avelar, Andrea Dawn Fowler, Roman Covarrubias, and Eloisa Covarrubias Sanchez.  His children resonated with his humor, gentleness, wit, and love of food and snacks, which are clearly echoed in their lives today.   His wife Grace would say he owned her whole heart and she considered him her best friend and the love of her life.  Since the start of their relationship, it was a joy for her to love and care for him bringing her total fulfillment.

Henry was born in Brownsville, TX to Francisco Avelar Sr. and Consuelo Flores Avelar on July 15, 1953.  He was the third eldest of 12 brothers and sisters and was preceded in death by his sister Mary Rose LeBlanc.  His childhood was characterized by charming mischief and reckless adventures.  You could say he was a bully to his siblings, but he was also their first defense if someone tried to bully them.  He was an often-misunderstood grizzly bear of a man who actually had a very tender heart, which was later highlighted when he started a family of his own.  His parents, Frank and Chelo, championed a life of baseball in their kids and Henry found stardom and a deep passion for the game that carried on to adulthood.  He was well-known as an MVP, championship winning, pitcher and 1 ^st baseman for the Hustlers, a Brownsville city league for about 6 years.  At his peak, his 90 MPH fastball was not easily contended with!

At 22 years old, he fearlessly chased a job that at the time was a colossal endeavor.  That tenacity landed him a leadership role at Norton, as a quality assurance supervisor shaping his forever career.  After a short time working there, he couldn't help but to start a company baseball team- the Norton Bears.

He mentioned that some of the best years of his life were spent in Mexico as the plant manager for Carlingswitch in the small city of Concepcion de Oro, Zacatecas.  Henry was highly revered and loved by not only his employees, but the city of Oro for his leadership, care, and generosity.  It's also no surprise that his influence didn't stop there.  He once again ignited a passion there for the game of baseball by his continued, domineering presence on the mound.

After retirement, Dad enjoyed a schedule-free life in the Houston area, filled with buying things he didn't need at Traders Village, frequenting local festivals, and spending precious time with his beloved grandchildren.  Being with them gave him so much joy even if it was just having tea parties, taking naps, and eating snacks together.  He was an intelligent man who freely gave of his wisdom, accepted all, and had a light-hearted demeanor that to many, brought security and peace, especially when life got difficult.

He will be painfully missed, but endearingly remembered by his family, friends, and all those who knew him.

A cremation visitation and memorial service will be held on Friday, August 21, 2020.

• Visitation: Klein Funeral Homes and Memorial Parks 9719 Wortham Blvd, Houston, TX 77065
  • Friends and Family can visit from 8:45 AM - 9:45 AM
  • Family and Extended Family from 9:45 AM - 10:45 AM
• Memorial Service: Calvary Christian Fellowship 1365 Northpark Dr. Kingwood, TX 77339
  • Service begins at 2:30 PM (for family and extended family only)
  • ALL are welcome to join us via live stream for the Memorial Service at 2:30 PM. Go to ccf.community and click on the "AVELAR Live Stream" button