Vavra

Lillie Mae Pearl Vavra (Lulu) 92 went to be with the Lord on April 23, 2025.

Lillie Mae was born in Fayetteville on April 16, 1933 to Albina Mikeska Vavra and Jerome J. Vavra. Lulu married the love of her life Robert John Brightwell (Bob) and had a wonderful life together traveling all over the world. They renovated a Greyhound Bus and belonged to a group called the Bus Nuts. They would travel together and form friendships that would last forever.

Lulu lived an adventurous life, riding motorcycles, fishing in Alaska, climbing mountains, exploring Hawaii, skiing in Colorado, riding up in hot air balloons. Lulu and Bob enjoyed keeping themselves busy exploring and traveling to new adventures.

Lulu was very dedicated to her Czech heritage. She proudly joined the Czech dancers at the Texas Czech Heritage Museum. She researched family history and Fayette County Texas history. She was devoted to the Fayette County Historical Commission. She prepared applications for historical markers for cemetery’s and churches. She wrote articles for the local newspapers on Fayette County history.

She is a member of the United Daughters of the Confederacy. She was very involved with the startup of the Fayetteville Area Heritage Museum. Her family are long time members of the SPJST No. 1 Lodge in Fayetteville.

Lulu enjoyed playing Dominoes with the senior citizens in Fayetteville and in Mentz. She looked forward to playing bingo in Ellinger. She was a member of the Fayetteville Brethren Church and made monetary donations to show her support. She had a loving heart and a kind soul. She will be missed by many.

She was preceded in death by her husband Bob, her parents Jerome and Albina Vavra, and her sister Marion Frances Vavra Cernota.

She is survived by one step son, Mike Brightwell. She has one niece, Sandra Briones from La Grange; three nephews, David Cernota from La Grange, Thomas Cernota and wife Sandy from Fulshear, and Raymond Cernota from Atlanta, Ga. She has numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

A graveside service will be held on May 7, 2025 at Ross Prairie Cemetery located next to Fayetteville Brethren Church at 11 a.m.

Donations can be made to the Fayetteville Area Heritage Museum, 119 N. Washington St, Fayetteville, TX 78940, or to the Fayetteville Brethren church, 1022 Kramr Rd, Fayetteville, TX 78940.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Tommy E. Taylor Funeral Home in La Grange.