YUCCA VALLEY, CA—Ezequiel A. ‘Zeke’ Avila, 58 years old, a resident of California and formerly of Pelham NH, died at his home after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was the beloved husband of Karyn L. (Shockley) Avila, who survives him.
He was born in Portugal, on December 29, 1947, a son of the late Francisco and Maria (Airoso) Avila, and was educated in Portugal.
Mr. Avila moved to Angola, Africa in 1967 where he worked on his father’s farm before serving in the Portuguese military from 1969 to 1971 during the civil uprising in Angola. He came to the United States in 1972 and married his wife in 1980 and became a U. S. citizen in 1988. He was the former owner of Universal Cleaning Systems, before moving to Yucca Valley, in October of 2005.
Surviving him besides his wife are a son: Ezequiel J. ‘E.J.’ Avila, of Yucca Valley, CA; four sisters and three brothers-in-law: Anelcina and Ed Elsasser, of Yucca Valley, CA; Filomena and Joao Fagundes, of Pelham, NH; Maria Isabel and Edmund Cote, of Dracut; and Maria Inez Avila, of Pelham, NH; four brothers and two sisters-in-law: Francisco and Maria C. Avila, of Modesto, CA; Jose Dimas Avila, of Redlands, CA; Jorge M. and Maria Avila, of Corona, CA; and Jose Silverio Avila, of Yuciappa, CA; his mother-in-law: Deanna L. Shockley, of Lowell; three brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Randall S. Shockley, and his fiancé Dorothy White, of North Chelmsford; Keyth Shockley of Dracut; and Greig and Lisa Shockley, of Lowell. He is also survived by many cousins in the U. S. and Terceira Azores Portugal; also many nieces and nephews including: Sheila Noble, of San Clemente, CA; Jason G. Cote, of Dracut; and Claudia Avila, of Corona, CA; all of whom are his god children.
He was the brother of the late Carlos A. Avila, who died in 1999; son-in-law of the late: Robert J. Shockley and brother-in-law of the late Dennis N. Shockley.
Friends may call from 4 to 8 PM on Monday September 4th at the MAHONEY FUNERAL HOME, 187 Nesmith Street, (Rte. 38). His Funeral Mass to be offered Tuesday, September 5th, at 9 AM at ST. ANTHONY’S CHURCH, Central Street, Lowell. Private committal. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to Odyssey Hospice Healthcare; 71-777 San Jacinto Drive; Suite 102; Rancho Mirage, CA 92266, or to the charity of one’s choice.