Dr. Maple Leroy Avery
Dr. Maple Leroy Avery, 80, died Aug. 25, 2011, at his home in Burnet after a struggle with brain cancer. He was born in El Paso on Nov. 4, 1930.
He started life as an orphan, living with his adopted grandmother in Brady and graduating from Brady High in 1948. He accepted a call to the ministry at the age of 14. While studying at Howard Payne University and then Baylor University, he ministered at several churches including a small Baptist church in Padgitt and Plainview Baptist Church near Colorado City.
In June 1951 he was called to the East Fourth Street Baptist Church in Big Spring and pastored there as he completed his degree at Baylor, graduating cum laude in 1956.
Other pastorates followed at First Baptist Levelland and then University Baptist in Abilene.
From Abilene he moved to Galveston, where he made a life-changing career choice by entering medical school at the University of Texas Medical Branch. He received his medical degree with highest honors in 1965.
After an internship at Baptist Hospital in Houston, he spent several years working as a general practitioner in Cleveland and Conroe.
The specialty of ophthalmology held a special fascination for him, so at 41 he applied and was accepted in the residency program at University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston at the Hermann Eye Center.
He received his certification after three years and returned to Conroe, where he practiced ophthalmology for 30 years, finishing his career at the Avery Eye Center.
His life is best summed up by a quote in a letter from an old friend: “Surely no one else started out with so little, worked so hard, accomplished so much and did so much good in this world.”
Survivors include his wife of 60 years, the former Iva Jo Johnson of Brady. They were childhood sweethearts, graduating together from Brady High.
Other survivors include children Jan Avery Gaut and husband Tommy Gaut of Burnet, Dr. Graham Avery and wife Mary Jane of Beaumont, and Kenda Avery Blikre and her husband Wayne Blikre of Miami; and grandchild Alexandra Miles Avery.
Special thanks go to his caregivers for the last few months. From Circle of Hands the family recognizes Jay Gibson, Yadira Arreguin, Richard Hood, Jennifer Jones and owner Debra Kelly. Many thanks also to Don
Berryhill and Sandy Hahn from Life Made Easy Home HealthCare as well as Seton Highland Lakes Home Health/Hospice.
A memorial service is 3 p.m. Sept. 3 at Walnut Methodist Church in Round Mountain, with an outdoor reception to follow. The directions are: one mile west on FM 3347 from the 3347 intersection with FM 962.
Walnut church is truly a “little brown church in the vale.”
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Hermann Eye Fund, 6400 Fannin St., Suite 1800, Houston, TX 77030.
Condolences can be made at www.clementswilcoxburnet.com.
Arrangements by Clements-Wilcox Funeral Home, 306 Texas 29 East in Burnet, (512) 756-2222.