Nahum Edward Avery

Traverse City – Nahum Edward Avery, 82, of Traverse City, passed away peacefully at Munson Medical Center on August 14, 2015, with his family by his side.

Nahum was born January 11, 1933 to Charles and Lottie (Hoch) Avery in Traverse City.

He attended school in Traverse City and after high school took a job with the C&O Railroad where he worked for 33 years, retiring in 1984. He was a machine operator and foreman for the railroad and over the years was known for being skillful at building and repairing rail systems.

Nahum married Muriel (Wilson) Avery on October 26, 1951 at a service in Kingsley, MI. This October they would have celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary. The two met when he was 14 years old and they became instant friends and soulmates.

He was a family man and loved having people around, especially at the family home on Spider Lake, where he loved to play cribbage and watch the loons dive. He was a collector and was an avid outdoorsman. He loved to hunt and fish and passed these skills on to his children and grandchildren. He enjoyed watching football and the Detroit Tigers and was a long time Nascar fan and Dale Earnhardt Sr was his favorite driver.

Nahum was a devoted husband and father. He was patient and gracious with his time and carpentry and mechanic skills. He could build or repair anything. The first thing that he built was a dock and picnic table on the family lakefront property so that he and Muriel could enjoy their first date. He also built houses and fixed many family members cars.

Nahum was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Lottie, his sister Leona Schopf and son in law Stephen Badura.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Muriel, his children Pamela Avery of Traverse City, Rhonda (Ron) Winn of Traverse City, Chuck Avery of Traverse City, and Dan (Diann) of Traverse City, grandchildren Christopher Timm, Jonathon Timm, Stephanie Timm, Michael Winn, Levi Winn, Aeron Avery and Jill (Ed) Drow, and great grandchildren Jade, Josh, Caleb and Peyton.

A memorial service to honor Nahum will be held on Saturday August 22, 2015 at 1:00 p.m. at Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home in Traverse City, with visitation held one hour prior. Pastor Tom Randall will officiate the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Nahum's name can be made to the Cherryland Humane Society, 1750 Ahlberg Road, Traverse City, MI 49686, or the Wounded Warrior Project at www.woundedwarriorproject.org or 4899 Belfort Road, Suite 300, Jacksonville, FL 32256.