Avonelle Mae Orr (called "Ava" by many friends and family) was born to Clara and Eddie Holm on May 21, 1927 in Moorhead, Minnesota. She was the second to the oldest of four children. She graduated from North Dakota Agricultural College in June 1949 with a BS majoring in Food & Nutrition. She then moved to the West coast to be near family and worked for the VA hospital from 1949 - 1956 in various locations as a Dietitian.

She met Eugene Orr in San Francisco, California sometime after 1951, and they were married in September of 1955.

She joined the Kaiser Permanente Medical Group in 1958 and worked there as an executive secretary until retiring in 1989.

She and her husband had no children of their own, but they were lovingly engaged in the lives of many of their nieces and nephews and were positive role models and inspirations to them. They also had a female pet dog (Pug) named Sufi who was a delight to them and others for many years.

She enjoyed bowling for many years. She also enjoyed cooking, baking, quilting, and solving Sudoku and Crossword puzzles.

After retirement she and her husband moved to Vacaville, where they were active in their local church and community.

Avonelle was preceded in death by her husband, Eugene; sisters, LaVerne Sawyer and Darlene Hightower; and brother, Duane Holm.

She is survived by many nieces and nephews, and great-nieces and great-nephews.

She is interred with her husband at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery in Dixon California, where a memorial service was held for her on June 29, 2018 with family and friends.