Russell Avant

Published 3:50 pm Friday, April 1, 2016

Let it be known that at 3:33 PM on March 3, 2016, there flew from here a stand-up man to all who knew him. Russell J. Avant, proud legacy of a 3-generation real estate dynasty in his beloved Port Arthur, TX took his leave from this Earth while napping in the company of his beloved wife Shirley, son Jeff Avant, and grandson Logan Avant.

Known for his roguish good looks, his loyalty, and a great sense of humor, Russell also proved to be unwavering in a crisis, and certainly weathered more than a few in his 89 (+4 days) years. His devotion to Shirley and their 4 children (Lenore, Alison, Ira and Jeff) extended equally to his 4 grandchildren (Logan, Matthew, Kelly, and Scott.)

Russell’s photographs of these, his favorite subjects, are legendary, and chronicle the family’s growth from babies to adults, almost always in an uncommonly flattering light. These photographs revealed Russell to be an artist, in addition to his reputation as a renowned real estate expert in Port Arthur and Southeast Texas.  He appraised residential and commercial land sales, salt domes, and oil fields over the course of his career, serving as President of the Port Arthur Board of REALTORS, and earning advanced designations of MAI, SRA, SREA, and CRE Counselor (by invitation-only.)  Russell continued to make himself available to experts in the real estate field seeking information on comparabale sales, well after his retirement.  Also a World War II veteran, Russell was fortunate that the war ended shortly after his training was complete.

Always an avid hunter, Russell’s fondest memories were of grueling, uncomfortable forays into the marshes in the early morning cold with his friends, hunting ducks, geese, and later deer. Stories are still told by his own kids, nieces, and nephews occasionally wrangled into these hunts, of shoulder damage from rifle kick-backs, freezing, crotch-high wades through snake, alligator, and Nutria-infested marshes, and shivering, blue-lipped, mosquito-bitten rides home amidst duck and goose bodies to be cleaned and feathered for that night’s dinner. These activities were barely tolerated by Shirley, who magnanimously cooked them up, just to evade the hunts herself.

When Russell bought the Flying Scot (aptly named “Wild Thing” by family vote) sailing became a passion for Russell and an exciting new family adventure.  Over the years, we all enjoyed many fine sails across Lake Sabine, a few Lake Travis regattas, and sometimes- friendly rivalry with local Port Arthur sailors. This imbued his kids and their friends with a love of sailing that carries on to this day.

Before Russell mysteriously went totally deaf at age 43, a development which could’ve broken many a man, he would sing us kids to sleep at night, regaling ancient, bluesy songs like Jack the Knife, Maggie, The Whiffenpoof Song, The Old Rugged Cross, When It’s Twilight on the Trail, and many others from the Kiwanis Song Book. He would sing these songs with great emotion and expression while giving foot massages until the kids went to sleep. To us, his voice rivaled that of Perry Como and Dinah Shore.

The loss of his hearing brought many difficulties, both in work and in communicating with family and friends. However, true to character, Russell soldiered on, refusing to learn sign language or lip-reading, forcing those in his company to repeat themselves incessantly until he got the message.  In later years, we resorted to written communications to get through to him, but he continued doggedly in his career and refused to let this handicap interfere with his success or his enjoyment of life.

When Shirley suffered a stroke in 2000, Russell never failed to support and stand by her during a painful and lengthy convalescence which changed their lives forever.  Even this setback did not derail the hardy couple’s plans to purchase and remodel their dream-house, finally living in “high-style” in one of old Port Arthur’s most prestigious neighborhoods. While there, they endured the Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Ike before finally moving to Austin at the insistence of their children.

Though Austin’s charms are well-known, Russell never failed to expound the virtues of the “beautiful, brown water” of Port Arthur’s Crystal Beach, the muggy weather, the abundant rains there, and the miserable marshes where he spent so many fine times with his fellow-hunters in his youth. On any gray day, he would look at the sky and say, “This is Port Arthur weather!” On hearing others rave about the clear, clean beaches further south, he would go on about the “richness of the dirty water” that is “the soup of life’s origins, straight from the Mississippi River.” He was even heard to extoll that being from that region inured him to mosquito-bites (“They just don’t bother me!”) We learned to smile and accept this as we scratched and slapped at the menacing creatures.

In the end, as much as it was his intention to carry on as long as necessary to protect his darling Shirley, Russell finally let go and went on ahead, with Shirley napping by his side. No doubt he’s busy preparing a proper welcome for the wife he loved so well. 

Those lucky enough to know Russell will surely miss him, but expect we too will be greeted one day with his twinkling, winking eye, “when we meet on that other shore.” (From the song Goodbye, Old Paint—one of his favorites.)

Condolences (cards only) can be sent to Shirley Avant @ 1606 Nash Ave #8   Austin, TX   78704