John Gordon Avery

John Gordon Avery – 97 Of Lakeland, GA passed away Monday August 5, 2019 at Langdale Hospice House in Valdosta. He was born on June 23, 1922 in Adel, GA to the late William M & Alice (Schoffield) Avery. He was drafted into the United States Army in 1942 & served during World War II. After returning home he met & married Doris Mathis on October 26, 1946. He was a farmer most of his life and also worked as a butcher with various local meat markets for 18 years. Known to most people as “Papa John” he enjoyed fishing, going to Harveys on Wednesday to get the “SuperSavers” & telling stories of the war. He had a true love for God and spent many days reading his Bible “without glasses”. As the oldest living World War II veteran in Lanier County, he was privileged to take “The Honor Flight” to Washington, DC in 2007 & was inducted into the American Legion as a lifetime honorary member. Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Cleo Harris Avery; granddaughter: Jenni Avery Long; daughter-in-law: Pauline Avery; 5 Sisters and 3 Brothers.
Survivors Include: 4 Sons & Daughters-in-law: Johnny Avery, Lakeland, Robert & Shirley Avery, Lakeland, Ronald & Janie Avery, Valdosta & Joe Avery, Lakeland; Grandchildren: Sheila Livingston (Nathan), Ron Avery (June), Chris Ashburn (Curtis), Paula Avery, Lisa Okroi (Sam) & Amy Walker (Joe); Great Grandchildren: Chase Livingston (Kalin), Hannah Black, Ashley Avery, Cole Livingston (Ashley), Avery Taylor (Hannah), Austin Myers, Lauren Roe (Aaron), Alesa Bennett, Emily Taylor, Cayden Walker, Cason Walker, Cooper Walker, Cam Walker, Bryon Ashburn & Haley Ashburn; Great Great Grandchildren: Cannon, Chandler, ZoeAnn, Jeremiah, Isaiah & Maya and a number of nieces and nephews.
Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 PM Thursday, August 8, 2019 in the Lakeland Chapel of Music Funeral Services with burial following in Poplar Spring Cemetery, Berrien County. Military honors will be rendered. The family will receive friends from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM Wednesday evening, August 7, 2019 at the funeral home. Sympathy may be expressed online at www.musicfuneralservices.com . The Avery family is being cared for by the professional and caring staff of Music Funeral Services, Lakeland.