Mary Bayles-Avila

Mary Rebecca Elizabeth Avila (Bayles), 45, passed away peacefully at her home on December 6th, 2021. Mary is survived by her 12 children, Elizabeth Roberts, Yvonne San Elias, Gabriel San Elias, Juaquin Avila, Soloman Bayles-Roberts, Laura Damas, Brenda Avila, Fernando Avila Jr, Jade, Soren, Marek and Sofia Avila and her 17 grandchildren; her mother, Rebecca Bayles-Cook; two sisters Mercy Okic, Anna Cook, and Alice Verdugo; numerous nieces, nephews and good friends. Mary is preceded in death by her father Edgar Bayles, stepfather Ray Cook and her brother Tim Bayles. Mary was born on April 5 1976 in Palm Springs, California to Rebecca and Ed Bayles. Mary was raised on the southside of Des Moines and was a proud Southsider. Mary finished high school in 1994. During her younger years, Mary received support from Good Samaritan home and many other agencies. As a single mother of six, she graduated from Upper Iowa University with a Bachelors of Arts Degree. As soon as Mary was working as a teacher she did everything she could to repay the help she had received. In 2008 she moved her family to Juarez, Mexico and attended the University of Phoenix, and received her Master’s degree in Business Administration. When she returned from Mexico, Mary with her a servant’s heart, joined the staff at a local domestic abuse shelter. She later joined the staff at DMACC where she accepted a position as a trainer for the Department of Education program. If Mary ever saw a person in need, she was the first to help. Her love for children translated into being a full-time stay-at-home mother to multiple children and later adopting six children. Mary developed a strong love of rocks at an early age. Stopping to fill her pockets full of unusual rocks wherever she went. She traveled miles to hunt for geodes or to pick up special rock polishing machines. That love has been passed on to her grandchildren. Mary could and would describe in detail what kind of rock it is and where she found it. Mary was fascinated with family genetics and DNA. She researched our family tree dating back several generations. This sparked the curiosity of most of the family so much that a majority of us have had our ancestry DNA completed. Mary also knew no stranger and insisted on only seeing the good in others. This led her to volunteering with numerous foundations, political and social rallies where her service to the community reached new heights. A visitation will be held on Friday, December 10, 2021 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home & Crematory, 8201 Hickman Rd., Urbandale, IA 50322. A service will be held on Saturday, December 11, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. at Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home & Crematory. Burial will follow at Laurel Hill Cemetery.