I got a phone call from Ricky Blackburn, whose sister, Penny Avila, was killed in the boat crash off San Pedro.Avila, a San Pedro Realtor, was one of eight children who grew up in Hutchinson, Kan.
She had a son, Michael Avila and three grandchildren.
Avila and her boyfriend, Henry Sanchez, had been together about 10 years. Sanchez, whose sisters Loretta and Linda serve in Congress, had a son.
The couple regularly took the boat -- owned by Sanchez and Avila's son -- to Catalina Island. Last week, their boat and a barge collided. Sanchez and Avila died.
Divers recovered the bodies yesterday.
Avila started out as a bank teller for Central State Bank in
Hutchinson. The bank helped send her to real estate school. She bought
some rentals in Kansas that Blackburn takes care of for her.
Looking for adventure, she moved to Southern California and owned several rentals here. She also purchased an apartment building recently near Pittsburg State College.
A lover of animals, she became involved in the Animal Rights Foundation. She had a number of dogs, and regularly took in strays.
"She was just a little country girl," her brother said. "She was loved by everybody."
The brother said he spoke to his sister every other day on the telephone.
Avila will be cremated, taken out to the spot where she died, and scattered at sea. A memorial service will be held in a local park in Hutchinson, a city of about 50,000 people.
"She is going to be missed," he said.
Looking for adventure, she moved to Southern California and owned several rentals here. She also purchased an apartment building recently near Pittsburg State College.
A lover of animals, she became involved in the Animal Rights Foundation. She had a number of dogs, and regularly took in strays.
"She was just a little country girl," her brother said. "She was loved by everybody."
The brother said he spoke to his sister every other day on the telephone.
Avila will be cremated, taken out to the spot where she died, and scattered at sea. A memorial service will be held in a local park in Hutchinson, a city of about 50,000 people.
"She is going to be missed," he said.
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