Ethel Averitt, 93, formally of Hart, Texas passed away and entered heaven's gates on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, in Merkel, Texas.
Celebration of Life Service of Life Service will be held on Friday, January 31, 2025, at 11:00 A.M. at the First Baptist Church of Hart with Senior Pastor Howard Griffin of the First Presbyterian Church of Amarillo officiating.  Burial will follow at Hart Cemetery under the care of Colonial Funeral Home of Dimmitt.  The family will receive friends on Thursday, January 30, 2025, from 5:00 P.M. – 6:00 P.M. at the funeral home.
Ethel Averitt was born on September 29, 1931, in Alvord, Texas to William Rowlett and Fannie Mae (Prescott) Rowlett.  Ethel grew up in Alvord, Texas and graduated from Alvord High School in 1950.  While in school, she met the love of her life, Ted Averitt and they married in 1950.  She then attended and graduated from Midwestern State University and then went on to receive her master's degree from North Texas University.  Ethel taught school for many years in various communities including Iowa Park, Burkburnett, Hermleigh, Hart, and Lubbock due to Ted being a coach and Superintendent.
Ethel enjoyed all kinds of games, but she especially loved playing "bridge" with her friends.  She always attended her grandchildren's sporting events and watching Texas Tech Athletics.  She and Ted loved to travel and they traveled to many places together, she was funny and a great entertainer for friends and family.  She had a passion for quilting and was a wonderful cook.  For many years, she was a member and Sunday school teacher at First Baptist Church of Hart.  When her and Ted retired, they moved to Lubbock and she was active in Calvary Baptist Church as a Sunday school teacher and led the children's sermon.
She will be most remembered by her big bright smile and the twinkle in her eyes and being in the Raider Ranch commercial playing water volleyball.
She leaves behind her three children, Jan Whisenhunt of Merkel, TX, Stacy Gerber and husband Norman of Nazareth, TX, and Jim Averitt of Austin, TX, five grandchildren, Bradley Gerber, Hayden Gerber, Paige Gerlich, Trent Gerber, and Edward Averitt, sister-in-law, June Rowlett of Lubbock, TX along with several nieces and nephews.
Ethel is preceded in death by her husband, Ted Averitt, three brothers, Bill Rowlett, George Rowlett and Jim Rowlett, three sisters and their spouses, Lynelle and Herbert Bernhardt, Jo and Bud Steen and Belle and Max Bailey and son-in-law, Dink Whisenhunt.
A special "Thank You" to Birch Villa, Merkel Nursing Center and Sandy Farris for being her ride to FBC.
Please sign the online guestbook at colonialfuneralhome.org