Memorial

Memorial Service for Mark A. Avery

1956 ~ 2015

Map

Take 32nd Street in Yuma to S Avenue 3 E.  Turn south and go past the Marine Corps Air Station.  Continue on to East County 19th Street as shown in the map above.  When you reach the County 19th Street intersection, stay on the pavement and turn left as shown in the photo below.  Under the white arrow you can see the white sign to the left of the intersection.  This sign reads, "DPE Materials" as of September 2016.  Do not go straight on the dirt road.  You need to make a left turn here as shown by the red arrow.  You will then drive approximately one half of a mile up the road.  Some of us will be there early and you will be able to see us and where to park your car.  Parking will be on the left side of the road and the area for the memorial service will be on the right side of the road.  

You are welcome to bring something to sit on if you feel more comfortable.   Please be sure to wear closed toed shoes such as tennis shoes because the area is soft and sandy soil.  You are welcome to share any tribute or memory of Mark at the memorial. 

 

Eulogy for Mark A. Avery  
March 25, 2017


Good Morning.  Welcome to this gathering of remembrance and final farewell to our beloved Mark.  I invite you now to mute any cell phones at this time and join me in a brief moment of silent reflection as we take this time to savor the sounds all around us of one of Mark's favorite places.

Obituary:

Mark Alan Avery, 59 of Rancho Mirage, California passed on November 17, 2015 in Henderson, Nevada.  Mark was born August 31, 1956 to Harold and Celia in Painesville, Ohio.  He grew up in Yuma, Arizona and graduated Kofa High School in 1974.  He married Rebecca Contreras on March 25, 1977.  He and Rebecca have three children.  Daughter and son-in-law, Tanya and Philip Nikolich, Son and daughter-in-law, Dustin and Kristin Avery and daughter, Iris Avery.

Mark worked for Safeway and Vons Foods.  He became a Jehovah's Witness in 1994 and devoted his life to Jehovah.  His love for God held no bounds.  Mark was known for his positive attitude.  Even after being diagnosed with cancer, he remained positive with a smile on his face.  Mark is survived by his parents, sister and brother-in-law, Diana and Larry Rudolf, sister, Cheryl Reinert and special friend Jon Green, Bill Reinert JR, brother and sister-in-law, Jeff and Laura Avery, Rebecca, his children, 5 grandchildren, Parker and Melania Nikolich, Tristin, Masin and Emily Avery, his mother-in-law, Nancy Chavez, his brother-in-law, Jude Contreras, his sister-in-law, Griselda (Shelda) Reyes and Family, many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.

Those preceding Mark in death were his brother, Paul J. Avery, grandparents, Harry and Nellie Moore Banfield, Henry and Lena Wendlocker Ungers, Uncle Bob "Claude" and Aunt Angela Yates, Uncle Francis "Butch" Allen, Uncle Alan DeBolt, and Aunt Janet Avery DeBolt.


Music ~ Amazing Grace  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tae3rpIvpg

Let us pray together The Lord's Prayer.  You will find His prayer inside of Mark's leaflet.

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy Kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory
for ever and ever.
Amen

These beautiful surroundings here in the Yuma desert were a favorite place for Mark and Becki and it was Mark's desire to have his physical earthly remains cast to the elements here.  I say physical remains because Mark's spirit and memories will live on in us as the paths they made in his lifetime resonates and flows into the future.  The trails they followed in life are now still here for us as his personality and traits will be passed on from generation to generation.  Mark had a great love for God. He lived his life trying to honor God.  From the time when we were small children until the day of his death.  Today we remember our dear Mark with love and fondness throughout his 59 years of life.  A beautiful man with a kind and caring heart despite the trials and tribulations he faced in this world.  He will never be forgotten.  And forever he will be loved.  Mark was my first best friend forever.  And growing up with him was a great highlight in my life.  He was always there to comfort each of us, Cheryl, Jeff and myself.  And I'm sure each of you too.  To guide us, to protect and love us.  He is Dad and Mom's son, our big bruddah and our friend. We feel this is not goodbye.  It is, "We'll see you later" because we know we will be together again by the Grace of our Lord through His Son, Jesus.  Thessalonians 4:16 tells us;  "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18. Wherefore comfort one another with these words."

Thank you, Lord, for your grace and goodness.  Thank you for Mark.  And thank you, Mark, for all you were, for all you are.  Until we are together again.  We Love You and God Bless You.  Mark would want us to always remember that all Bibles teach us the same important message.  That God is Love and God loves each and everyone of us unconditionally.  John 3:16 reads, "For God so Loved the World that He gave His only Begotten Son and Whosoever believes in him [His Son] shall not perish but have Everlasting Life."  There is no question of God's Love for each of us.

I now would like to ask if anyone would like to share their memories of Mark, you may certainly do so now.

At this time, our brother, Jeff will come forward for the Disperses.  In casting the ashes of Mark to the four winds on this very special ground, we think again all that our dear Mark has meant and still means to us.  We dedicate this simple plot, amid these natural surroundings to every beautiful and precious memory.  We cast these ashes back to the gentle earth. The earth which has sustained all of humankind since the beginning.  To the good earth we now commit the ashes of our dear brother, Mark. To the air that now lifts our spirits.

We hereby cast these earthly remains, now purified by fire, lifted by the winds and returned to the earth.  Rom. 8: vs 38 ~ 39. "Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior."   Mark's favorite verse, Revelation 21:4, tells us; “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”

We'd like to share this piece of music Mark requested be played today ~ In This Life https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tr5aWs9gErk

And so now, with sincere gratitude, we come to celebrate Mark's life and to say we'll see you later, Mark.  Our gratitude comes from deep within our hearts knowing that Mark is at peace.  He is infinitely available to us by his memory and in Spirit and we are grateful for having had the experience of knowing and being with Mark and for being a part of his life.

Let us Pray:

Lord, we commend to you the spirit of Mark and commit his earthly remains to his final resting place.  May you bless him.  May you keep him and may your Grace shine upon him and bring him everlasting peace.  May you comfort us with your Love and the knowledge we are all saved by your Grace through your Son, Jesus.  Ephesians 2 vs 8,  "For by grace [we] have been saved through faith; and that not of [ourselves], it is the gift of You, our Father."   In His Holy Name we pray,  Amen.

At this time the family would like to remember our brother, Paul J, whom we lost on July 18, 1960.    Jeremiah 1 vs 5:  Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.  Before you were born, I set you apart.

Today the family would like to say a belated, but sincerely heartfelt farewell to our parent's baby boy and our brother, Paul.  He was born and passed on July 18, 1960 in Yuma, Arizona.  Although we did not get the chance to know him here on earth, we still feel a closeness and love for him that surpasses all that is in this world.  He is the third child and second son to Harold and Celia and he will always remain in our hearts.  We know he is with our Lord and Savior and through our Savior, we have the hope of being together with Paul one day.

Let us pray...........

Our Father in Heaven
We thank you for your Grace, your Love and for
your Blessings.  For little Paul who went into
your light and care. We know your way is always
for good and that Paul is with you being guided
and blessed.

Please give us strength and wisdom to
understand your plans for us.
Please comfort us during these difficult times.
Let us come to know you better.
To feel the Love you have for each one of us.
Guide and Bless us, too, as we journey
through our own lives.
With all our Love
We thank you, Lord
In Jesus' name we pray.....Amen

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. ~ Romans 15 vs 13

This concludes our ceremony.  On behalf of Mark and Paul's family, we sincerely thank each of you for joining us today.   A special thank you is extended to Mr. Don Peterson for allowing us to utilize his property for this memorial service.  If you would like, please join us for a no host brunch celebrating Mark and Paul at the El Charro restaurant located at 601 W 8th St here in Yuma.   Also, there is a headstone for Mark, Paul and the Avery Family at the Desert Lawn Memorial Cemetery at 1415 South 1st  Avenue in Yuma.  The family marker is in the Garden of Desert Lawn Memorial Park, Space 55, Lot 9 and Mark's cremation marker is in the Mausoleum.  The family will be going there after the brunch if you would like to meet us there, we can show you where the markers are located.


Music to be played as people begin to leave,

~ Up Around The Bend https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnRsaHXHznQ

Mark's Sister in Christ, Robin: Thinking about you, I am watching a funny movie in the quiet of the house thinking of my many blessings, especially having you as a friend !! I am a true believer in miracles but just in case I don't see you for awhile know that you have touch my life in a very profound way. I quit drinking because of the journey you have shared with all of us. To allow all of us in your fight, your belief in God and the way how you always share the beauty in the little things. I am spending more time with family and friends. My husband of 37 years has set up date nights for us....you did that. This change has been going on since you first got sick. And then you got well. And then you weren't. It's so very sad but I wanted to thank you for sharing your wonderful spirit. I love you. I always pray for you and your family. Your sister in Christ...always, Robin.

And the following is Mark's response to her:

Mark A. Avery

Oh my Dear, Dear Sister, Robin! I read your message through tears and hyper-ventilation. I cannot put into words what a blessing this is to me. With your permission, PLEASE, I would like to have your message read, in its entirety, at my funeral. Please? And please know, that it was not me, that caused all those blessings for you. What you've experienced, is only a minor reflection, of our Dear heavenly Father Jehovah, through his Son and our King, Christ Jesus. Continued blessings to you and yours Dear Sister Robin, and please give my personal thanks to your Dear husband, for establishing date nights with you. Your Brother in Love, Mark.

 

 Mark Avery