Manuel Avery "Lucky" Nix

1921 - 2023

Manuel Avery Nix, 101, of Lake Milton, Ohio, and formerly of Murphy, passed away Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023, at Mercy Health-St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital surrounded by his loving family.
Manuel, known by his family and friends as Avery or "Lucky," was born April 29, 1921, in Gastonia, N.C., a son of W. Jess and Litha McClure Nix.
Avery spent much of his childhood in Young Harris, Ga. After working with the Civilian Conservation Corps Camp in Robbinsville, he moved to Youngstown, Ohio, where he worked for the Youngstown Sheet & Tube Mill. He started as a steelworker and later became a conductor/brakeman before retiring in 1980 after 30 years.
After retiring, Avery returned to Murphy for several years before returning to Youngstown to be with his daughter, JoAnn Colla, and son-in-law, Nicholas.
Avery was a member of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics. He volunteered at the Hiwassee Dam and Murphy senior centers, both in North Carolina, where he served as a senior companion for over nine years. He has also taught woodworking and exercise classes at the centers.
A few years ago, Avery received the Modern Woodmen Hometown Hero Award for his years volunteering in his communities in North Carolina and Ohio.
Avery liked drawing with pencils, doing word search puzzles, and enjoyed cookies.
Avery is survived by his daughter, JoAnn (Nicholas E. III) Colla of Lake Milton, Ohio; six grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and seven great-great-grandchildren; two stepsons, Jackie Wines and Todd Wines of Canton, N.C.; and several nieces and nephews.
Besides his parents, Avery was preceded in death by his wives, the former Norma Stiles, whom he married on Oct. 30, 1943, and died Aug. 6, 1980, and the former Mae Mann, whom he married in 1981 and died March 26, 1995; a daughter, Geraldine M. Sumner; a son, Michael J. Nix; and six brothers and three sisters.
Family and friends called from noon-12:45 p.m. Tuesday, March 7, at Davidson-Becker Funeral Home, 11 Spring St. in Struthers, Ohio. A funeral service followed at 1 p.m. at the funeral home. Interment followed at Poland Riverside Cemetery, in Poland, Ohio.
In lieu of flowers, the family requested material tributes take the form of contributions to Oak Grove Baptist Church, 2431 N.C. 294, Murphy, NC 28906 in memory of Avery.
Please visit www.beckerobits.com to share memories and online condolences with Avery's family.