Somerset —
Brother Harlan J. "Hootie" Avera, Sr., age 79 of Somerset went Home to be with His Lord, peacefully surrounded by his family, on Saturday, October 20, 2012.
Harlan was born on January 26, 1933 in Ludlow, Ky., to the late Harold G. "Bud" Avera and Jewell Hatter Avera. Bro. Avera was a bi-vocational pastor for 42 years, retiring in January 1997 and also retired as office manager for Southern Tire Distributors after 39 years. Bro. Avera pastored at the Burnside Mission, Chesterview Baptist Church, and New Hope Baptist Church, Nancy, Ky. He was saved, ordained, and a member at the Langdon Street Baptist Church in Somerset, Ky. He enjoyed family history, genealogy, scrapbooking and his family.
Bro. Avera married Revetta R. "Betty" Helton on December 10, 1951 in Sloans Valley, Ky., and she survives him.
Along with his wife, he is survived by two sons, Harlan J. Avera Jr. (and wife, Marilyn) of London, Ky., and Johnny G. Avera (and wife, Tara) of Somerset; a daughter, Marnella McWilliams (and husband, Michael) of Somerset; seven grandchildren, Christopher (and Shannon) McWilliams of Somerset, Telena (and Alton) Goff of London, Ky., Shawna Campbell of Sloans Valley, KY, Monica (and Glenn) Benge of London, Ky., Shasta Avera and Tiffany Avera of Tenn.; and Logan Phillips of Lexington, KY; eight great-grandchildren, Wesley Benge of London, Ky., Shelby Benge of London, Ky., Brayden McWilliams of Somerset, Brycen McWilliams of Somerset, Kelsey Campbell of Sloans Valley, Ky., Kendall Benge of London, Ky., Trey Campbell of Sloans Valley, Ky., and Connor Goff of London, Ky.; a brother, Leonard Avera (and wife, Janice) of Somerset; a sister, Margie Wilson of Somerset; and a sister-in-law, Kathleen Avera of Lubbock, Texas.
Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Harold "Junie" Avera Jr. and a brother-in-law, Virgil Wilson.
Visitation for Bro. Avera will be today at 6 p.m. at Lake Cumberland Funeral Home, 1046 West Highway 80, Somerset.
Funeral service will be held on Thursday, October 25 at 1 p.m. at the chapel of Lake Cumberland Funeral Home with Bro. James Floyd and Bro. Jerry Chandler officiating.
Interment will be in the Somerset Cemetery.
Pallbearers for Bro. Avera will be Christopher McWilliams, Brayden McWilliams, Brycen McWilliams, Glenn Benge, Alton Goff, and Shelby Benge.
Honorary pallbearers will be Connor Goff, Kendall Benge, Trey Campbell, Aaron Dockery, Caleb Dockery, Chris Frye, Ben Jasper, John Wright Polk, Noah Polk, and Duane Wilson.
The family requests expressions of sympathy be made to the Langdon Street Baptist Church Building Fund and/or Hospice of Lake Cumberland.
Lake Cumberland Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements for Bro. Harlan J. "Hootie" Avera Sr.
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