William Avery, Sr.

WILLIAM H. AVERY, SR., 98 died November 4, 2009 in Wakefield, KS. He was born on August 11, 1911 in Clay County, Kansas, the son of Herman and Hattie (Coffman) Avery. William H. (“Bill”) Avery, Sr., heretofore the eldest surviving former member of Congress, was born and reared in the Wakefield community. He attended the University of Kansas, where as a member of the Delta Upsilon fraternity, he served as president of the Inter-Fraternity Council. Following his graduation in 1934, he returned to Wakefield to assist with the family farming and livestock operation, and during this period, he entered politics as a member of the local school board. In 1936, he met a young teacher who had moved to Wakefield from Junction City, Miss Hazel Bowles, and by 1940, they were married. Bill subsequently served two terms as a State Representative in Topeka, and in 1955, voters of the Second District elected him to the U. S. Congress, where he served for five terms through 1965. He was elected as the 37th Governor of Kansas in 1964 and sworn in on January 11, 1965. Bill later returned to Washington, D.C., serving at the Department of the Interior from 1974 until 1977, at which time he and Hazel made the decision to build their family home in Wakefield. He thereafter served as Vice-President and Chairman of the Board for the Farmers and Merchants State Bank and pursued a variety of avocations, including expanding his collection of antique farming equipment and raising teams of Belgian Giant horses. Bill was also active in the Masonic Lodge, the Farm Bureau, and the Lions Club. Following a lengthy illness, Hazel preceded Bill in death in 2004. Survivors: Son: William H., Jr., and wife Alice Avery, Indianapolis, IN Daughter: Barbara Avery, New Orleans, LA Son: Brad and wife Sharon Avery, Topeka, KS Daughter: Sue Avery, Winchester, MA Grandchildren: 8 Grandchildren and 5 Great-grandchildren Funeral Services: Saturday, November 14, 2009, at 10:30 A.M. at the United Methodist Church in Wakefield, Kansas. Minister: Rev. Diana Stewart Visitation: 6-8 PM Friday, November 13, 2009 at the Wakefield United Methodist Church Memorials: Wakefield Methodist Church or Arthritis Foundation (arthritis.org) c/o the funeral home