Funeral services for Lavis Ollean Grant Gentry, 89 of Marshall will be held at 2p.m., Sunday, February 21, 2016 in the chapel of Downs Funeral Home with Bro. Mike Roberts and Bro. Otis Bryant officiating. Interment will follow in Waldrop Cemetery in Fairplay, Texas in Panola County. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Saturday, February 20, 2016 at the funeral home. Mrs. Gentry went home to be with her Lord and Savior on February 17, 2016.

Lavis was born February 28, 1926 in Henderson, Texas to James Mitchell Grant and Sudie Mae Norris Grant. She graduated from Henderson High School and later attended Catillian School of Beauty Culture. On September 17, 1943 she married Hays Thomas Gentry in Henderson, Texas. He preceded her in death on December 20, 2004. She worked for Thiokol Chemical Corp as a time management analysis for 31 years, retiring in 1988. Lavis was charter member of Sunset Missionary Baptist Church which was started in her home. She was also a 50+ year member of Marshall Chapter 356 Order of Eastern Star where she served as Worthy Matron from 1965 – 1966 and 1994-1995.

Surviving Lavis are her children. Kenneth Hays Gentry and wife Patricia Pearce Gentry of Annapolis, MD and Jackie Sue Weeks and husband Terry Weeks of Marshall; five grandchildren, Brett Weeks and wife Carrie of Lake Cherokee, Grant Lee Gentry and wife Malia of Hoover, AL, Will Tipp Gentry and wife Jennifer of Denver, CO, Effie Mae Gentry of Annapolis, MD and Gavin Pearce of Burtonsville, MD; eight great-grandchildren, Lillian Katherine Weeks, Jordan Thomas Weeks, Curtis Hays Weeks, Samuel Kenneth Gentry, Luke Joseph Gentry , Rowan Travis Gentry, Emmitt Oliver Gentry and Lincoln Garrett Pearce; two sisters, Sylvia Marie Ross of Henderson and Lillie Sue Dowden and husband Ed of Bullard and a host of nieces, nephews and friends.

She was preceded in death by her father, James Mitchell Grant, mother, Sudie Mae Norris Grant, husband, Hays Thomas Gentry, granddaughter, Gentry Denise Weeks and three brothers, John William Grant, Clifford Olen Grant and J.M. Grant.

Serving as pallbearers will be Jordan Weeks, Brett Weeks, Grant Gentry, Will Gentry, Gavin Pearce, Effie Gentry, Billy Baker and Dan Love. Honorary pallbearers will be Don Williams, Terry Williams and Mike Williams.

The family would like to give special love and appreciation to Freddie Cooper, Karen Nesbitt, Pat Munden and Emma Lovely as well as Good Shepherd Homecare of Marshall for all the care given to their mother.

Memorials may be made to the Bondage to Freedom House, 2703 Karnack HWY, Marshall, TX. 75672, or charity of choice in memory of Lavis Gentry.