St. .George, Utah - Loraine Foster Avery, our amazing father, grandfather, brother and friend was finally able to return to his loved ones on May 7, 2014 in American Fork UT.

Loraine was born in Kanosh, Utah on April 19, 1922 to John Andy Avery and Ethella Foster Avery. He was the third of six children with 4 sisters Helen, Aseneth (Jean), Mildred, Evelyn, and his brother Clair.

His father became ill when Loraine was eleven. Being the oldest boy in the family, the responsibility for running the farm became his, so he took over the farm, milking cows, slopping pigs, feeding horses, hauling hay, taking care of the orchard and garden and whatever needed to be done on a farm. He had an agreement with a neighbor to work at his farm so the man could help Loraine put up the hay and grain. Because of his fathers health, his family moved to Tempe and Mesa, Arizona. After a short time in Arizona, his father passed away so the family returned to Kanosh. At age 17, Loraine moved to St. George and has spent the rest of his days there. Loraine loved Dixie, it was his home; he had deep roots.

Loraine met his lifelong sweetheart, Barbara Carter, at a skating rink shortly after moving to St. George. She fell (there is a rumor that she suspiciously fell next to him), he picked her up, and that was the beginning of a wonderful courtship.

Loraine joined the army in November 1942 and served as a truck driver hauling supplies to the front lines in England and France during WWII as part of General George S. Pattons 3rd Armys Red Ball Express. As the war ended in Europe his unit was assigned to the Philippines. When the war in the Pacific ended, his unit stayed and gathered the remnants of war for an additional seven months. He spent thirty-nine months overseas with no furlough. Barbara wrote to him the entire time he was in the service. They married April 2, 1946 in the St. George Temple.

In addition to working for Dixie Feed, Loraine bought a truck and hauled coal, hay or whatever was needed. In 1958, Intermountain Farmers purchased Dixie Feed and a year later, asked Loraine to manage the St. George store. He worked in that position until he retired in November 1986. Loraine loved knowing the farmers, ranchers, and dairy men and tried his best to meet their needs. He sincerely appreciated the relationships he had from those many years.

Dad has always been active and loved serving in the LDS church as a home teacher, clerk, and in Sunday School, Young Men, and Elders Quorum Presidencies, but mostly he loved serving his neighbors in quiet unexpected ways. He found great joy in helping and making others happy. He leaves a legacy of the value of hard work and reaching out to others.

His beloved companion Barbara died in 1991 leaving an empty place in his heart. He was able to find a dear sweet companion, Donnavieve Smith, to share their last years. Loraine sincerely loved her family and treated them as his own. He and Donna always included the combined families in all they did.

Dad was the embodiment of the Greatest Generation. He quietly chose to always do the right thing because it was the right thing to do. He proudly fought for and served his country. He never lied (except when other fishermen asked what bait he was using to catch all those fish). He worked hard. Complaints were not part of his world. He and Barbara raised a beautiful family. They loved and supported their children in all they did; they were always their first concern. Though he should be and will be richly rewarded, he would have lived the same way regardless.

He was proceeded in death by his wife Barbara Carter Avery and second wife, Donnavieve Nicol Smith Avery; his sisters, Aseneth (Jean) Tolton and Evelyn Hall.

He is survived by his children, John L and Lorraine Young Avery of Caliente, Nevada; Carolyn and Richard Gonzales of Dacono, Colorado; Mark Carter and Diane Ericson Avery of Orem, Utah and KLynn and Scott Wood of Alpine, Utah and his sisters Helen Larsen and Mildred Gilner of Washington, Utah; and brother Clair Dean Avery of Provo, Utah. He has 23 grandchildren and 46 great grandchildren and by Donnas three children, sixteen grandchildren, 41 great grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.

The family expresses their sincere gratitude and appreciation to the many kind caregivers at Stonehenge in American Fork, Utah these past few months.

Funeral Services will be Monday, May 12, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at the Sunset 11th ward chapel, 82 North Dixie Drive, St. George, Utah. Visitation will be held that morning prior to services from 9:00 to 10:45 a.m. in the same location.