Mavis Irene Ledbetter

January 4, 1939 – March 27, 2023

Mavis Irene Ledbetter, 84, of Ceres, passed away peacefully and surrounded by family, on Monday, March 27, 2023 at 3:31 p.m.

Born on January 4, 1939, in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, Mavis was the daughter of Andrew and Rachel Shewbart of Ceres. As a child, she moved to Ceres in 1946 with her family and attended Ceres schools. She graduated from Ceres High School in 1958 and soon after married Bill Ledbetter, whom she met while attending Assembly of God Church in Keyes. The two wed on June 14 that year in the same church and began their lives together in Keyes. In 1972, Bill and Mavis, together, built their home in Ceres and have resided there ever since.

For a short while, Mavis was employed by Waddler’s Milk Company, where she worked in one of their shops on Yosemite Boulevard in Modesto selling eggs, milk, ice cream and milkshakes. Mavis always had a love of ice cream.

Mavis was well-known for decorating her home for the seasons, as well as always planting colorful flowers in her yards.

Bill and Mavis raised four children and would have celebrated 65 years of marriage this June.

Mavis leaves a legacy of family behind and is survived by her loving husband, Bill; her four kids, daughter Pamela Sexton; sons Steve Ledbetter, Darrell Ledbetter and Michael Ledbetter; four grandchildren, Amy, Heather, Jordan, and Colton; two step-grandchildren, Jessica and Jesse; and five great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by parents Andrew and Rachel Shewbart, brother Andy Shewbart of Ceres, and sister Patsy Birdwell of Merkel, Texas.

Services begin with a viewing on Tuesday, April 4 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Franklin & Downs Chapel, 2561 5th Street in Ceres. Church services will be held on Wednesday, April 5 at 10 a.m. at Haven of Hope Church (formerly Keyes Assembly of God), 5450 7th Street in Keyes, followed by graveside services at 11:30 a.m. at Ceres Memorial Park, 1801 E. Whitmore Avenue.

–Ceres (Calif.) Courier

Wednesday, April 5, 2023