Visitation for Mrs. Bertha L. Lavalis 81, of Copperas Cove, Texas will be held on Wednesday, January 25, 2023, from 5:00 p.m. -7:00 p.m. at Bible Way Missionary Baptist Church, in Copperas Cove, Texas.

A visitation will be held on Friday, January 27, 2023, from 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. at Mount Sinai Missionary Baptist Church in Port Arthur, Texas.

A private family interment will be held on Saturday, January 28, 2023, at Greenlawn Memorial Park in Grove, Texas.

Bertha Louise Lavalis, 81 passed away peacefully on Saturday January 14, 2023. She was born April 9, 1941, in Liberty, TX to Horace and Lounella Frank.

The family moved to Port Arthur TX, and she grew up with a natural talent for doing hair. By the age of 14 she was doing hair in her parents' kitchen and had a large clientele. Bertha was a 1958 graduate of Lincoln High School in Port Arthur, TX and went on to graduate from Beauty School.

While in high school she began courting the love of her life...although they lived next door to one another for many years. Bertha and Phillip married in August of 1960. They shared 56 years of marriage and had 2 children Phillip Jr. and Valarie Lavalis while making wonderful memories as they traveled to various places throughout Phillip's military career.

Bertha was an energetic social butterfly and loved entertaining guest in her home. She was a great cook who learned most of her skills from her mother-in-law, Rose Bonton. Bertha owned a hair salon, Black Image Hair Fashions for 25 years. She was very active in her community, and she was a member of ABWA, she was the Queen of the Red Hat chapter The Blessed Sisters and also a member of the Golden Girls group and was an active member of the Sisterhood at Commanche Chapel of Fort Hood.

Left to cherish her memories: son, Phillip Jr; daughter, Valarie Lavalis of Copperas Cove, TX; brother, Willard R. Frank (Birthe) of Copenhagen Denmark; sister, Bettye Ann Watler (Efrain) of Port Arthur, Tx; Nieces, Sheila Ignacio of Beaumont, TX; Sherry Johnson (Joe) of Cypress, TX; Amelia Miller (Ken) of Port Arthur, TX; Nephews, Joseph Smith of Port Arthur, TX; Christian Frank of Copenhagen Denmark; Great nieces Deja Ignacio of Beaumont, TX; Julia Watler of Port Arthur, TX; Alicia Cintron and Ledy Scott of Boynton Beach, FL; Lounella and Frederikke Frank of Copenhagen Denmark; Great nephews, Barrid Ignacio of Beaumont, TX; Kenndrick Miller of Port Arthur, TX; Demario Watson and Derrick Lee of Cypress, TX.

Bertha shared a loving relationship with her aunt in laws, Francis Gallow of Port Arthur, TX; Mildred Frank, of De Soto, TX; along with her sister in laws, Pamela Landry, Marrietta Lavallais Collins, and Mary (Tiny) Lavallais of De Soto, TX and her brother-in-law Arnold Landry of Desoto, TX; her adoptive grandchildren Jordyn and Jarvis James of Killeen, TX; Cory Gloude and Jay Vallejo of Austin, TX and a host of other cousins, extended family, and friends.

She is preceded in death by her Husband, Phillip G. Lavails Sr., Mother & Father, Lounella and Horace Frank, and mother-in-law Rose Bonton.