Mirjama Avotins

Mirjama M. "Miriam" Avotins died early Saturday morning, August 8, 2009 at the Summit HealthCare Regional Medical Center in Show Low, Arizona. She was 76 years old. Miriam was born on March 4, 1933 in Riga, Latvia to the late Rudolf Valdemar and Alma (Mednis) Avotins. The Avotins family came to America while she was yet a young girl. After graduating high school, Miriam enrolled at the University of Minnesota and graduated with a Nursing Degree. Miriam truly devoted her entire life to the service of others, and over the years eased the pain and suffering of, literally, thousands of people. She moved to Arizona around 1957 and worked for many years as a Registered Nurse for the Maricopa County Health Department in Phoenix. Following her retirement, Miriam moved to the cool White Mountains in eastern Arizona, making Lakeside her home. She loved the beautiful mountain scenes of this part of the state, and took advantage of the many lakes in the area, as she truly loved to go fishing. Miriam also was very fond of all animals. She especially loved the many dogs and cats that she owned over the years as they proved to be comforting companions to her. Miriam is survived by a brother, Pete Avotins and his wife, Pat, of Pismo Beach, California; a sister, Dagmar Tibbs and her husband, (James "Casey"), of Scottsdale, Arizona; 2 nieces, 4 nephews and numerous grand nieces and nephews. She will be dearly missed by her family and friends. a public visitation will be held 6:00 to 8:00 P.M., Monday, August 10, 2009 at Owens Livingston Mortuary - White Mountain Chapel, 320 N. 9th Street in Show Low, Arizona. The funeral service will begin 10:00 A.M., Tuesday, August 11, 2009, also at Owens Livingston Mortuary. Contributions to The American Heart Association or to the Arizona Humane Society have been suggested by her family.