Anna Avery

Anna LaVerne Avery was born August 14, 1934 to Fred and Anita Guilihur. LaVerne was born in the Blas Payne ranch house on the Coombs Cattle Company Ranch. She was raised at Santiago Peak and Rosillas Mountains with her parents and siblings. She attended Marathon schools where she graduated. She married Durwood Dean Avery on October 15, 1951 in Ojinaga, Mexico.
LaVerne and Durwood had 5 children and a life filled with camping, RVing, dancing, fishing, cooking, game playing, and a lot of joyful memories with family and friends.
Visitation was held on Monday, March 4th at Marathon First Baptist Church, with funeral services being held on Tuesday, March 5th, 2019 at the Marathon Elementary School Auditorium, with burial following at the Marathon Cemetery.
LaVerne went to Sul Ross State University and graduated with a Bachelor's and Master's Degree. She taught school for 48+ years in Hildalgo Ward School, Marathon Elementary, Odessa Blackshear Magnet School, and Presidio Elementary. She had a tremendous gift and passion for teaching kids to read and to love school. Upon retiring she received her cosmetology license and operated her own salon in Marathon. LaVerne came out of retirement and returned to teaching where her heart truly was, with kids and watching them learn. She taught generations of families and poured her heart into her classroom, Easter egg hunts at her house, kindergarten graduations, and endless school parties.
LaVerne loved quilting, gardening, RVing, dancing, and playing all sorts of games with family and friends where winning was the only option. She was well-known for her homemade jellies, homemade biscuits and gravy, homemade rolls, and the most beautiful handmade quilts. She loved working with her hands, and she was a hard worker in all she did.
LaVerne loved life: she loved a good joke, a good prank, and she loved to laugh. She was an amazing story-teller and could remember names, dates, and places in great detail. She loved the Big Bend area and enjoyed being a part of it her whole life.
LaVerne was a lifetime member of the Marathon Methodist Church, a current parishioner of the Marathon Baptist Church, a member of the Marathon Cemetery Association, a member of the Quilting Club, and a member of the Marathon Library Book Club. She was never a person to turn down a challenge - and she worked hard to become a participant in the Marathon 2 Marathon 5k run on October 27, 2018 where she won first in her age group! She left all of her family participants behind in the process of earning her medal. Winning was truly her only option!
LaVerne lived a life of hard work, respect, commitment, loyalty, determination, love, forgiveness, and perseverance. She was a servant to all, a true friend, a wife, mother, sister, grandmother, and great-grandmother that left her mark on every heart and life she touched. She was a hero to many and a legacy to follow. She was a humble person who constantly, until the day she passed, put the feelings and needs of others ahead of her own. She was truly loved by all.
LaVerne is survived by her two daughters: Patricia Duke and Jeri Lyn Skinner both of Midland, three sons, Bill and wife Ivie of Barnhart, Mike and wife Jana of Odessa, Lonny of Alpine, two sisters Emma "Sis" Hudman and husband Robert of Albany, and Nonita "Snookie" Brown of McCamey and one cousin/brother Macky Shackelford and wife Marilyn of Marathon. She had 12 grandchildren, Clint Roberts, Will Roberts, John Skinner, Thomas Skinner, Justin Avery, Wesley Avery, Tiffany Redman, Cade Avery, Creed Avery, Kirstie Avery, and KC Avery, 15 great grandchildren, 1 soon to be great-great granddaughter, and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband Durwood Dean Avery, her parents Fred and Anita Gulihur, one sister Rita "Tinky" Martin, two brothers, Norman "Shug" Gulihur and Jerry Gulihur, one grandson Donny Roberts, and one great grandson Jacob Roberts.
LaVerne left behind countless memories of love, friendship, laughter, home-cooked meals, and an endless love for life.
Pallbearers are her grandchildren:
Clint Roberts, Will Roberts, John Skinner, Thomas Skinner, Justin Avery, Wesley Avery, Tiffany Redman, Cade Avery, Creed Avery, Kirstie Avery, KC Avery, and Timothy Roberts.
Arrangements were entrusted to the staff of Alpine Memorial Funeral Home.
You may leave online condolences at: www.alpinememorialfuneralhome.com

Visitation

Marathon First Baptist Church
107 NE 3rd Street
Marathon, TX  79842
Monday, March 4, 2019
6:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Service

Funeral Service

Marathon Elementry School Auditotium
109 North 5th Street
Marathon, TX  79842
Tuesday, March 5, 2019
2:00 PM

Cemetery

Marathon Cemetery
East Street
Marathon, TX  79842