Christopher Gerald Avery

Christopher Gerald Avery was born to Patricia McGrath Avery and Everett Hayward Avery in Colorado Springs, Colorado on July 1, 1962. Chris left this world better than he found it when he passed away on October 28, 2023, in the loving care and home of his lifelong friend, David Hutton.

In his 61 years of life, Chris managed National Video, worked for Cardinal Health, the Kansas City Star, and the Kansas City Auto Auction. He graduated from Rockhurst College, where he majored in English and fell in love with Shakespeare.

His true legacy, however, lies in the hearts of the people he loved and continues to love, from beyond the veil.

He is preceded in death by his father, and survived by his mother; his brother, Mark Avery (Michele); his nephews, George (Martha), John, and Benjamin Avery; and his great-niece, Nora Avery, all of Overland Park, Kansas. Chris is survived, too, by his uncles, Gary McGrath (Frances) and Jim McGrath.

He perfected the role of ‘cousin,’ and is survived by his cousins: Kathleen McGrath and her son, Grayson Kassius Andersen, of Ottawa, Kansas; John McGrath of Kansas City, Kansas; Matthew McGrath (Frances Dickey) and his sons, Charles and Thomas McGrath, of St. Louis, Missouri; and Sarah McGrath (Timothy Bauman) and her children, Hannah, Daniel, and Margaret Bauman, of Rochester, New York. He will be missed, too, by his extraordinary circle of friends, including his dear friends David Hutton (Cissy), Vashon Borich-Leach and Ron Leach and their sons, Ty and Jack, and the entire Branson Karate and Tai Chi community.

There was always room in Chris’ heart for a new friendship, a new connection. Chris was the glue between his family members, and in his fifties, Chris found his niche in Branson, Missouri, where he quickly became a pillar of the community.

Chris lived for a good meal of barbecue (extra points for burnt ends), a Royals win, a Shakespearean reference, and a viewing of Ted Lasso, Rambo, or some other ‘classic’ movie. He cherished long conversations with loved ones, in which, as he would say, "we solved all the problems of the world.” He loved his faithful companion and ‘soul dog’ Ophelia, who passed away almost a year ago. He loved traveling, although, unfortunately, he never did stumble across Diane Lane in Italy.

It is impossible to translate the heart and verbalize the miracle that was Christopher G. Avery. So, a simple goodbye must suffice: Chris, we love you, we grieve you, we thank you for your six decades of goodness and devotion to the things that matter most in this world. Goodbye to our son, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend.

A Celebration of Life Mass will be held 11:00 a.m. Friday, November 3, 2023 at Our Lady of The Presentation Church, 130 NW Murry Road, Lee's Summit, Missouri 64081 With inurnment at Longview Memorial Gardens, Kansas City, Missouri.

Memorial Contributions may be made to Shepherd of the Hills Humane Society, 2837 Shepherd of the Hills Expressway, Branson, Mo 65616 in Chris's name.