Charles L. Avery

[ Originally published on: Tuesday, October 06, 2009 ]

ROWE -- Charles L. ''Cookie'' Avery, 63, of 276 Zoar Road, died Sunday, Oct. 4, 2009, at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield.

He was born in Greenfield, Feb. 21, 1946, the son of Charles D. and Marion D. (Sibley) Avery. He attended elementary school in a one-room schoolhouse in Rowe and was a graduate of the former Charlemont High School.

Avery was a Vietnam veteran, serving in the U.S. Navy.

Prior to retirement in June 2008, he was employed by Lamson & Goodnow Manufacturing in Buckland for 33 years. Previously, he had been employed by the town of Rowe Highway Dept. for seven years.

''Cookie'' loved the simple life and was proud of being a Rowe native. He was a kind and generous man who would help anyone in need. He especially enjoyed donating to children and veterans charities. Known as Rowe's oldest teenager, he enjoyed motorcycling, dirt biking, snowmobiling and hiking. He was an honorary member of the Indianhead Snowmobile Club in Rowe. He loved his dogs, Mitzi and Chubby. He was an avid NSCAR fan with his favorite driver, No. 24 Jeff Gordon. He was ribbed about this and always had a fast comeback in the defense of his favorite driver.

He married the former Linda E. Dodge on Aug. 21, 2005.

Survivors, besides his wife whom he loved with all his heart and soul inseparable of being as one, include his mother of Rowe, a stepdaughter, Crystel Shaw of Rowe; a stepson, Seth Jackman of Rowe; a brother, Gary of Florida; a sister, Deborah Miller of Rowe; a grandson, Jordan Jackman of Bernardston; a granddaughter, Kayalla Shaw of Rowe, and several nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life service will be held Saturday, Oct. 10, at 11 a.m. at Rowe Community Church. Burial will be in West Cemetery, Rowe, following the service.

There will be calling hours Wednesday evening from 6-8 at Smith-Kelleher Funeral Home in Shelburne Falls.

In lieu of flowers, contributions to help defray funeral expenses, may be made to Rena McDonough, 36 Lee Road, South Deerfield, MA 01373.

 

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