Funeral services were held in Teague Saturday for Teague native Mavis Eppes, 73, of Houston, who died Saturday, July 24 at the Vosswood Nursing Center in Houston.

She was born Jan. 31, 1937 in Teague to Richmond "Rich" and Ruth Haynie Eppes.

After leaving Sam Houston State University, Ms. Eppes began work as a file clerk in the records department of Vinson & Elkins. She spent her entire career at the Houston law firm and was appointed Records Department Manager in the early 1970s. Ms. Eppes retired in April 1999 as Director of Records after 40 years of service.

Ms. Eppes was a member of First Baptist Church Spring Branch, National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution, Jamestowne Society, Society of the Descendants of Francis Eppes I of Virginia, Texas First Families and Daughters of the Republic of Texas. She was recognized in Who's Who of American Women.

As an active member of ARMA Houston Board of Directors, she served as recording secretary, corresponding secretary, vice president and president as well as editor of the ARMA Houston Chapter newsletter, the ARMAdilla. Ms. Eppes was known as "Mamadilla" due to her contribution to the newsletter. In 2009, they established the Mavis Eppes Scholarship - Certificate of Excellence, which was awarded to the first recipient in October that year.

Ms. Eppes was considered a pioneer in the field of modern records management and credited with revolutionizing the management of legal records. She was awarded numerous awards for achievement in her field, but the ultimate award was in 1999 when she was inducted into the Company of Fellows for ARMA International, which consistently looked to Ms. Eppes to assist other law firms and professionals worldwide and to answer questions, provide technical data, share policies and procedures, and train other information and record managers.

A popular speaker and trainer, her work was profiled in college textbooks. Ms. Eppes authored an article on her firm's records system in The Office, a trade publication. She also served on the Curriculum Advisory Board of North Harris County College.

Ms. Eppes loved her family, county, friends, dogs, antique furniture, her weekend home at the Teague Lake, fine dining, home-cooked food and a well-timed joke.

She is survived by twin brother Davis Eppes & wife Jeanne of Trinity; sister Sue Eppes Ivy and husband Weldon of San Antonio; brother-in-law Forest Irwin of Houston; nephews James David Ivy of San Antonio, Jeffery Weldon Ivy of Houston and Kerry Glen Eppes of Adell, GA; nieces Terry Irwin Cline of Houston, Penny Irwin Robertson of Sugar Land, Brenda Irwin Barlow of Friendswood, Sherry Eppes Bolduc of Pearland, Aimee Eppes Mamich of Bellevue, W.A. and Jennifer Eppes Randles of Katy.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Mavis Eppes, FAI Excellence in Records Management Scholarship, ARMA International Educational Foundation, 1609 Terrie Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15241.

Arrangements made by Bowers Funeral Home.