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Homer James Avery

Homer James Avery

Male 1921 - 2018  (96 years)  Submit Photo / DocumentSubmit Photo / Document


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  • Name Homer James Avery 
    Born 7 Dec 1921  Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin Find all individuals with events at this location 
    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 Avery 8.
    1940 US census, Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, enumeration district 84-1610B, Family Number 159, Avery.
    Biographical Information 1969 
    Apollo XII Astronaut Preference Kit.
    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 Find all individuals with events at this location 
    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.
    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 Craftsman
    James Avery Craftsman
    Victoria Advocate (Victoria, Texas), 15 Dec 1978, Friday, Page 25
    James Avery Home Grown Company
    James Avery Home Grown Company
    The Kerrville Times (Kerrville, Texas), 30 Apr 1995, Sunday, Page 75
    James Avery On Visitors List
    James Avery On Visitors List
    The Kerrville Times (Kerrville, Texas), 27 Jun 1993, Sunday, Page 38
    James Avery's Plain Latin Cross.
    James Avery's Plain Latin Cross.
    The first piece James created was his "Plain Latin Cross". It is still available for purchase today.
    Died 30 Apr 2018  Kerrville, Kerr, Texas Find all individuals with events at this location 
    James Avery Death
    James Avery Death
    The Monitor (McAllen, Texas), 01 May 2018, Tuesday, Page A6
    Siblings 2 siblings 
    Headstones Submit Headstone Photo Submit Headstone Photo 
    Person ID I42770  Nagel
    Last Modified 15 Jun 2019 

    Father Willard Crissey Avery,   b. 14 Mar 1893, Stamford, Fairfield, Connecticut Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 5 Jan 1977, Kerrville, Kerr, Texas Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 83 years) 
    Relationship Birth 
    Mother Ava Samantha Ruby,   b. 23 Oct 1899,   d. 15 Jan 2002, Evanston, Cook, Illinois Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 102 years) 
    Relationship Birth 
    Married 3 Sep 1923  Cook County, Illinois Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F12995  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 1 Mona Louise Pierce 
    Married 4 Mar 1944  Val Verde County, Texas Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Avery-Pierce Marriage.
    Avery-Pierce Marriage.
    Avery-Pierce Marriage.
    Divorced Yes 
    Last Modified 19 Oct 2019 
    Family ID F12996  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 2 Sally Ray Ranger,   b. 6 Aug 1931 
    Divorced Yes 
    Children 
     1. Christopher Matthew Avery,   b. 2 Sep 1954, Kerr County, Texas Find all individuals with events at this location  [Birth]
     2. Timothy Jacob Avery,   b. 12 Jan 1956, Kerr County, Texas Find all individuals with events at this location  [Birth]
     3. Stephen Craig Avery,   b. 25 Aug 1957, Kerr County, Texas Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 19 Jun 1978, San Antonio, Bexar, Texas Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 20 years)  [Birth]
     4. Paul Michael Avery,   b. 12 Oct 1964, Kerr County, Texas Find all individuals with events at this location  [Birth]
    Last Modified 19 Oct 2019 
    Family ID F12997  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 3 Mrs Avery 
    Divorced Yes 
    Last Modified 15 Jun 2019 
    Family ID F12998  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 4 Mrs Estela Avery 
    Last Modified 15 Jun 2019 
    Family ID F12999  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart