 1921 - 2018 (96 years)
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| Name |
Homer James Avery |
| Birth |
7 Dec 1921 |
Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin  |
| Gender |
Male |
| Also Known As |
He goes by his middle name and is simply known as James Avery. |
| Census |
1930 |
| Census |
1940 |
 |
1940 Avery 8.
1940 US census, Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, enumeration district 84-1610B, Family Number 159, Avery. |
| Biographical Information |
1969 |
 |
Apollo XII Astronaut Preference Kit.
In 1969 the crew of Apollo 12 was selected and, their goal was the second landing on the moon. One of the first things they had to do was design the logo for their mission. The result was a Yankee Clipper ship sailing around the moon. They arrived at that because the Clipper was an American creation and it paid tribute to the fact that all three of the Apollo 12 astronauts were naval aviators.
The Apollo astronauts were allowed an "Astronaut Preference Kit" which within certain guidelines allowed them to take personal items on their trip. The things they could take with them on the moon landing were limited to 1 ½ pounds total or ½ pound per astronaut.
Astronaut Richard (Dick) F. Gordon Jr. chose to have custom made brooches made out of 14 karat gold. The design would be based upon their mission logo. To do the work he chose Homer James Avery, proprietor of James Avery Artisan Jewelry. One was made for each of the astronauts’ wives. A fourth that didn’t make the trip is on display at the James Avery Jewelry’s visitor center.
Additionally astronaut Alan Bean took with him a pair of sterling silver cufflinks with a Celtic cross design that were made by James Avery.
After the mission Dick and his wife presented the jewelry to the other astronaut’s wives. In the photo Sue Bean can be seen wearing hers. |
| Military Service |
U.S. Army Air Corps, WWII |
| He enlisted right after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. He trained at Lackland AFB. He flew 44 missions over Germany as a B-26 bomber pilot. |
 |
James Avery in a B-26 bomber.
James Avery in a B-26 bomber. |
| Occupation |
Jeweler - In 1954 he founded James Avery Artisan Jewelry out of a garage in Kerrville, Texas. The business is now run by his sons. |
 |
James Avery's Plain Latin Cross.
The first piece James created was his "Plain Latin Cross". It is still available for purchase today. |
 |
James Avery Craftsman
Victoria Advocate (Victoria, Texas), 15 Dec 1978, Friday, Page 25 |
 |
James Avery Home Grown Company
The Kerrville Times (Kerrville, Texas), 30 Apr 1995, Sunday, Page 75 |
 |
James Avery On Visitors List
The Kerrville Times (Kerrville, Texas), 27 Jun 1993, Sunday, Page 38 |
| Death |
30 Apr 2018 |
Kerrville, Kerr, Texas |
 |
James Avery Death
The Monitor (McAllen, Texas), 01 May 2018, Tuesday, Page A6 |
 Siblings |
2 siblings |
| |
| |
| Person ID |
I42770 |
Nagel |
| Last Modified |
15 Jun 2019 |
| Father |
Willard Crissey Avery, b. 14 Mar 1893, Stamford, Fairfield, Connecticut d. 5 Jan 1977, Kerrville, Kerr, Texas (Age 83 years) |
| Relationship |
Birth |
| Mother |
Ava Samantha Ruby, b. 23 Oct 1899 d. 15 Jan 2002, Evanston, Cook, Illinois (Age 102 years) |
| Relationship |
Birth |
| Marriage |
3 Sep 1923 |
Cook County, Illinois |
| Family ID |
F12995 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
| Family 2 |
Sally Ray Ranger, b. 6 Aug 1931 |
| Divorce |
Yes |
| Children |
| | 1. Christopher Matthew Avery, b. 2 Sep 1954, Kerr County, Texas [Father: Birth] [Mother: Birth] |
| | 2. Timothy Jacob Avery, b. 12 Jan 1956, Kerr County, Texas [Father: Birth] [Mother: Birth] |
| | 3. Stephen Craig Avery, b. 25 Aug 1957, Kerr County, Texas d. 19 Jun 1978, San Antonio, Bexar, Texas (Age 20 years) [Father: Birth] [Mother: Birth] |
| | 4. Paul Michael Avery, b. 12 Oct 1964, Kerr County, Texas [Father: Birth] [Mother: Birth] |
|
| Family ID |
F12997 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
| Last Modified |
19 Oct 2019 |
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| Event Map |
|
 | Birth - 7 Dec 1921 - Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
 |
 | Marriage - 4 Mar 1944 - Val Verde County, Texas |
|
 | Death - 30 Apr 2018 - Kerrville, Kerr, Texas |
|
|
| Pin Legend |
 : Address
 : Location
 : City/Town
 : County/Shire
 : State/Province
 : Country
 : Not Set |
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| Photos |
 | James Avery
James Avery |
 | James Avery
Homer James Avery - Eight grandson of James Avery. Founder of James Avery Artisan Jewelry. The business is now owned and operated by his sons. |
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