JAMES W. AVERY

AVERY, JAMES W.

James W. (Bill, Billy) Avery went to be with his Lord on Sunday, December 11. He apparently had a heart attack, as he had been battling heart disease and diabetes for several years. Bill was born on January 15, 1937 in Glen St. Mary, FL to John C. and Myrtis E. Avery. He married Linda Harben Avery on July 19, 1959 and they had been married 52 years. He was a loving and faithful husband, father, grandfather, and friend.

Bill was an active member of Oak Dale Baptist Church where he served as a deacon. He also served in the Marine Reserves for six years and then joined the Army Reserves until his retirement in October, 1993.

Bill was a 1955 graduate of Suwannee High School in Live Oak, FL where he was the senior class president. In 1955 he had the honor of being the State 4-H President. Throughout high school he was very active in this organization and won several prizes and trips to Chicago and Washington, D.C. Also during high school he was an ace third baseman, and a starting guard on the football team. Upon graduation, he came to UF and to school for a couple of years.

After his marriage in 1959, he had several different jobs, and in 1968 he decided to go back to UF and finish his degree in Agricultural Economics, graduating in 1970. After graduation, he and his family moved to Vero Beach, FL where he was the Senior Loan Officer at Farm Credit Service. In 1975, he and his family moved back to Gainesville and he worked as Vice-President of Farm Credit Service until he decided to go into raising dairy calves, which he did until 1993, when he started driving an over-the-road truck. He retired from that in 2002. He worked with H&R Block part-time as an enrolled agent and tax preparer until his death. Bill was a lifelong Gator fan.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John & Myrtis Avery (dying one year to the day after his mother died.) Bill is survived by his wife of 52 years, Linda; his three children, Beth Warner (John), Silver Creek, GA; Mark Avery (Katye), Gainesville; and Michael Avery, Gainesville. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Mallory and Jimmy Avery, Claire and Brett Warner, and Andrew Clark (fiancé of Mallory.) He is also survived by a brother, Donald Avery (Vicki), Mansfield, CT.

Funeral services will be held at 11 AM on Thursday, December 15 at Oak Dale Baptist Church, 17015 W. Newberry RD, Newberry, FL 32669. There will be a viewing one hour prior to the service, from 10-11 AM. Interment will follow at Forest Meadows West. Flowers are appreciated but for those who wish, memorial contributions may be made to Oak Dale Baptist Church.

ARRANGEMENTS ARE UNDER THE CARE OF MILAM FUNERAL AND CREMATION SERVICES, 311 S. Main ST, Gainesville, FL. 352-376-5361.