Joel Monroe Avery OBITUARY
Age 81, Richland Township, passed away on September 29, 2024, after many years with diabetes culminating in kidney failure, along with a few months of bile duct liver cancer. He died at home in hospice, living his life until the end the way he wanted. Joe was born July 1, 1943, in Seville Township, Gratiot County. He was the middle child of the seven children of Earl and Florence (Tipton) Avery. He was the last of four boys born in close succession, which made him the tag-along as the youngest. There are many stories about the 'Avery boys' when they were young: outhouse tipping, running through cow pastures, the kind of growing up most folks no longer have. When Joe was growing up, the Avery family lived in many places in Gratiot and Montcalm County as tenant farmers, always caring for other people's animals and crops. Often as driving through the county Joel would say something like, 'we lived in that house for a while and took care of so-and-so's farm,' or sheep, or took care of the orchard, or milked their cows, etc. After marrying Susan Joan Trexler on June 10, 1962, Joe (and Sue) lived the majority of their lives on the East Montcalm County Line north of Riverdale next door to what was formerly Hyde's Fruit Farm, one of the places Joe's family tenant farmed when he was younger. They built a modest home on property Joe asked the landowner to buy. In his early adult years, Joe worked construction, but moved into factory work as his girls were born. This made a very good living for his family, and offered opportunities to his two girls that he never had. The factory was unionized and during the 1970s, Joel worked many odd jobs while the union was on strike and during the oil embargo. He also worked in managing private land in the Upper Peninsula, and finished out his working years in a couple of non-union factories, the last being PCA in Edmore. He loved his family very much and enjoyed giving to others. Joel is survived by his wife, Susan Joan (Trexler), daughters Sarah Avery (Mark Prout), of Alma, Michigan, and Linda Avery-Eaton (Andy Eaton) of Kodiak Island, Alaska, and grandchildren Tayla and John Eaton. Preceding Joel in death were his parents, Earl and Florence (Tipton) Avery, brother Earl Junior Avery, sister Florence (Avery) Pendell, and grandson, Levi Avery Wojtowicz. A memorial service celebrating Joel's life will be held on Friday October 4, 2024, starting at 11:30 am at the Crystal Community Center. Interment will be in Richland Township Cemetery, Vestaburg at a later date. Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Lux and Schnepp Funeral Home. To view Joe's obituary or to leave a condolence for the family, please visit www.luxfuneralhomes.com.
